Honda debuts the Civic Type R TC designed for the race track

MANILA: Honda just unveiled a treat for racing fans and Honda Civic enthusiasts. Honda recently introduced a modified Honda Civic Type R TC for Type R customers who want to transition to a fully-built race car.

This is currently Honda’s latest offering in their competition-ready lineup and is designed for TC-class competitions. According to Honda, they’re targeting racers who frequent the SRO Touring Car Americas TC class, SCCA T2 class, and NASA ST5 and E2 classes.

While the original road Type R already packs a kick, Honda Performance Development (HPD) division made engineering modifications to make it a racing machine on the track.

The Type R TC features the same 2.0-litre VTEC engine as the original model, however, customers have the option of tuning it according to the needs of the racing series. It can be tuned to produce approximately 270 to 330 hp. For comparison, the road version can only produce 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque.

To make it conditioned for racing, Honda also added cooling ducts, a CSF radiator, plus auxiliary oil coolers. To ensure that the vehicle endures out on the track, a Borla exhaust downpipe and turbo-back exhaust was outfitted to keep gases expelled out the rear, while a Cusco limited-slip differential keeps power usage efficient.

HPD also equipped the R TC with standard racing mods such as Eibach race springs and Bilstein inverted double adjustable dampers for the chassis. The most notable additions are its FIA spec 16-gallon fuel tank -- a standard in racing competitions -- and a new six-speed manual transmission with more powerful third and fourth gears.

The R TC also received some new cosmetic upgrades, but each modification was added with the intention of improving the vehicle’s overall performance. The new mesh grille helps direct airflow to the engine, while brake ducts on the front fascia ensure the two-piece front rotors keep cool.

Inside the R TC is an OMP racing seat, and the standard racing roll cage and six-point harness for the driver’s body protection. Additional safety features also include a fire suppression system.

Honda announced that the L.A. Honda World Racing Team will be the first to use the Type R TC out on the track. It will make its debut in the 2020 SRO TC Americas series competition where it will be one of the two competing vehicles.

Drivers with a racing license can purchase the Honda Civic Type R TC for $89,000.

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