General News
01/Sep/2011
All new Civic for 2012
Honda Racing and Team Dynamics have confirmed their plans to enter next year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with an exciting new NGTC Civic.
The company will be unveiling the latest version of its highly popular Civic (the ninth generation no less!) later this month at the Frankfurt Show and a pair of race-prepared models are already being built by Honda’s long-standing BTCC partner, Team Dynamics, to meet the latest NGTC regulations. No photos of either the production or competition versions have been released yet aside from the sneak preview rear three-quarter shot as shown above.
The Honda Racing Team, though, has confirmed it will contest next year’s championship as a full ‘works’ entry, hoping to repeat the success of 2010, when it won both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles – two titles it’s on target to successfully defend in 2011.
“We are delighted to enter the new Civic in next year’s BTCC, and hope to build on the success we’ve already had with the current model,” said Dave Hodgetts, Managing Director of Honda (UK). “We’ve made significant improvements to the new road car, and we’re confident those changes will make for a competitive race car too.
“The Civic is the perfect model to compete in British Touring Cars, as it has been born and bred in the UK. The new car has been tested on more UK roads than any other Honda, and it will continue to be built exclusively in Swindon.”
Double champion Matt Neal is thrilled at what lays ahead. "We are all looking forward to 2012, and from my point of view it is very exciting to have the prospect of driving the new Honda Civic,” he enthused.
“The team’s development of the car is already well underway, and the new Civic will fit the BTCC's 'Next Generation Touring Car' regulations. I'm sure it will keep Honda at the front, and in the winner's circle, both off and on track!"
In the meantime, Neal and his team-mate Gordon Shedden are hoping to ensure the current Civic goes out on a high note with yet more silverware.
