Honda Australia will race its Jazz Light car in the resurrected Australian Rally Championship (ARC) in 2012. Indeed, the local arm of the Japanese giant will campaign two specially built and tuned S2000-spec Jazz rally cars in the six-round championship
The announcement comes after almost three seasons commitment to the local rally scene under the marque's Civic Type-R umbrella.
The new cars have been designed to the ARC's G2 front-wheel drive regulations and will be built by JAS Motorsport in Italy. They will sport Mugen-tuned 2.0-litre engines. Claimed output of the naturally aspirated engines is 183kW at 9000rpm.
Honda regular and 2010/11 pilot Eli Evans and co-driver Glen Weston will crew one of the rally Jazzs. Honda will announce the second crew closer to the championship's start in March.
Honda Australia spokesperson, Lindsay Smalley said: “We are excited about the next year of rallying. Racing is in Honda’s DNA. These rally cars are modified with the best engineering from Australia and Europe. Fitted with Mugen engines, these may well be the fastest Jazz in the world!"
Scott Pedder, CEO of the Bosch ARC welcomed Honda’s expanded commitment to the Championship and congratulated the company on its initiative.
“Honda has to be commended for leading the way and being the first to commit to the new formula.
“The Honda Civic Type R that Eli Evans and Glen Weston campaigned over the past two years has become a crowd favourite at rallies around the country, because of how exciting it looks on the stages and the great sound it makes. These new cars are going to look even better," Pedder commented.
“The renderings of the new Honda Jazz G2 are very exciting and give a strong indication of how the new generation of two-wheel drive rally cars will look. I am sure they will fire the imagination of rally enthusiasts,” Pedder said.
The ARC has been completely revamped for 2012 under Pedder's stewardship. It's make or break for the series but at least one other manufacturer is rumoured to be close to finalising an entry into the premier two-wheel-drive category of the 2012 title. Two other makes are also considering entries into the standalone SUV class.
The 2012 ARC is sponsored by automotive electronics specialist Bosch
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