The FK8 Honda Civic Type R is continuing to set records on race tracks across Europe, with the latest being the Estoril circuit in Portugal. This is the fourth stop of the Type R Challenge 2018, after the Silverstone GP circuit in the United Kingdom, Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium as well as the Magny-Cours GP circuit in France.
The person tasked with setting a new front-wheel drive (FWD) record at Estoril is Honda WTCR driver, Tiago Monteiro. The Portugese native took just 2 minutes 01.84 seconds to lap the 4.2-km long track which features two hairpins, a long main straight and a tricky chicane.
As a comparison, the FK8’s predecessor, the FK2, recorded a time of 2 minutes 04.08 seconds at the same track with Bruno Correia at the wheel in 2016.
“We came here with a goal to beat the existing lap record set by the previous car but you can never take anything for granted – I mean it’s a lap record so it’s no easy feat. You have to have supreme confidence in the car to attack around Estoril, and the new Type R is just so powerful, smooth and confidence-inspiring. We beat the lap record, smashed the record actually,” said Monteiro.
“The Type R is very stable and has very good braking efficiency and an amazing engine so it just feels like you are driving a race car – on the track it’s easy to forget that it’s a proper road car, but then you can drive it home. The new Type R is a big evolution. I mean we’re talking about a totally different car in terms of design, aero, suspension, geometries, engine, but more than anything the feeling of driving the car,” he added.
Thankfully, the latest Civic Type R is available for sale here in Malaysia, where it is currently being offered at a zero-rated GST price of RM301,928. For the money, you’ll get a hot hatch that comes fully imported from the UK with 310 PS provided by a 2.0 litre VTEC Turbo engine, as well as a six-speed manual gearbox.
GALLERY: FK8 Honda Civic Type R
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KIA Stinger 365HP smoke this.
Are you sure? Do checked the online auto portal on the several track run result before you comment on this
The look of this generation is really embarrassing…performance wise, practicality, thumbsup tou.
a great car, only when its dry..
wait until new Golf Clubsport smoke this light weight car
So essentially what Mr Tiago Monteiro is trying to say is this new CTR can be driven normally by anyone on a B-road & still can take it to a racetrack for Track-day. It’s THAT good.
No la it depends on driver. Knowing its Honda, only its name in racing is history ady.
At least its wayy better than the old junk and overhyped FD2 R. Boring like Hell car. Ugly and underpowered.