The FL5 Civic Type R TCR Will Be Ready to Race for the Majority of the 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Honda teams in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will be riding in a new Civic early in the 2023 season.
Honda Performance Development (HPD) announced Monday that the FL5 Civic Type R TCR, developed in collaboration with JAS Motorsports, will be ready for competition in the Touring Car (TCR) class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge beginning in April. In the meantime, HPD partner teams will continue racing the Honda Civic FK7 TCR that won two times in 2022.
The new Civic racer is based on the latest FL5 Honda Civic Type R production model revealed last summer. JAS Motorsports is developing the FL5 TCR in Italy and making it available for North American competitors.
Key features of the car include a brand-new exterior design and aerodynamic package to improve downforce, a new chassis for enhanced cornering stability and greater driver safety, upgraded braking and transmission systems, plus a race-prepared version of the four-cylinder, two-liter turbocharged engine featured in the Type R production vehicle. The ergonomically refined cockpit has been created in line with the latest FIA global safety standards and houses a sophisticated multi-channel driver display providing a greater level of relevant information than ever before. Additional lighting, driver cooling and anti-lock braking (ABS) are available as well as a revised “quick-fill” fueling system.
“The new Type R TCR features significant enhancements in chassis, engine, suspension and braking, while we’ve used the extensive knowledge gained through the (Acura) NSX GT3 and Civic Type R TCR customer racing programs to create our safest and most driver-friendly cockpit yet,” said Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsports TCR Project Leader.
JAS-developed Civic Type R TCR race cars have helped Honda achieve 397 TCR victories and 74 major crowns globally in the class. According to John Whiteman HPD Commercial Manager, “The Civic Type R is one of Honda’s most iconic and desirable cars.
“Being an icon and a globally homologated proper race car makes it no surprise that the TCR is one of HPD’s most popular cars,” Whiteman added. “We at HPD are very proud to continue our partnership with JAS and offer the Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR to North America in 2023.”
HPD also announced that HART, LA Honda World and VGRT will return as partner teams in 2023. LA Honda World expects a two-car entry, with Ryan Eversley and Mat Pombo making up one of the team’s driver pairings.
The 11-race Michelin Pilot Challenge season opens with the BMW M Endurance Challenge, the four-hour race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Jan. 27.