Honda Civic Type R sets new lap record at Suzuka circuit
Honda’s most extreme Type R yet, the Civic Type R Limited Edition has set a new 2 mins 23.993 secs lap record for a front-wheel drive car at the world-renowned Suzuka Circuit in Japan.
The Suzuka Circuit is a 5.8 km track famous for its high-speed chicanes and challenging corners, incorporated in a ‘figure eight’ layout that includes a long 1.2 km back straight that passes over an earlier part of the circuit. With its lightweight components, suspension and steering upgrades, and a stripped-back, driver-focused interior, the Civic Type R Limited Edition has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible from front wheel drive, on one of the most demanding tracks in motorsport.
Widely regarded as a highlight in the Formula 1 calendar, Suzuka has been an important test bed for developing performance Honda vehicles and engines since 1962. It was built on the instruction of company founder and president, Soichiro Honda, who famously said: “Automobiles cannot be improved if they are not put through their paces on the racing circuit.”
The record-breaking lap was achieved by a Type R Limited Edition development car as it underwent its final performance evaluation in February 2020. The development car featured the same technical specifications representative of the production version, with no modifications or performance enhancements. The Type R Limited Edition is on sale across Europe now.
Hideki Kakinuma, Civic Type R Project Leader commented: “The Type R Limited Edition reflects Honda’s dedication to refining the essence and driving pleasure of Type R as a sportscar and exceeding the expectations of our customers. The engineering team and I embraced a racing spirit that has been passed down for generations, and it’s this strong passion that’s driving the evolution of the Civic Type R towards becoming the ideal sportscar.
“For this model change, speed was further pursued in collaboration with Honda Racing Development (HRD) Sakura, which plays a key role in Honda’s motorsport development. This partnership led to the establishment of the fastest Type R lap record at Suzuka Circuit, often described as “one of the greatest circuits in the world.”
Just 100 of the Type R Limited Edition will be built for Europe, each benefitting from the standard Type R’s outstanding driving dynamics and performance. The new Limited Edition features lightweight 20-inch forged BBS alloy wheels with high grip Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres. These are designed exclusively for outstanding circuit performance but still deliver exceptional on-road performance, whilst providing a 10kg weight saving.
Modified dampers optimise this new wheel and tyre combination and, together with recalibrated steering, offer maximum control and feedback. The Adaptive Damper System’s control software now evaluates road conditions faster, resulting in improved damper reactions for both better handling response and ride quality.