Honda Civic Type R breaks Silverstone lap record
Japanese hot hatch crowned fastest production front-drive hatch following similar records at Spa and Magny-CoursThe Honda Civic Type R has set a new lap record for front-wheel drive production car at Britain's Silverstone race circuit.
Driven by three-times British Touring Car Championship winner Matt Neal, the Civic Type R set a new lap record of 2:31.32, beating the previous record that was, coincidentally, set by the previous-gen Civic Type R over the 5.89km race circuit.
The new lap record of the British circuit follows on from similar record-breaking antics at the French Magny-Cours and Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps race circuit.
Back in April 2017, the current generation Honda Civic Type R became the fastest front-wheel drive production car ever around the Nurburgring, setting a lap time of 7:43.80.
Helping it break records, the latest FK8 Civic Type R comes equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder that pushes out 228kW/400Nm.
Against the clock, the Type R hits 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and tops out at 272km/h.
Maximising its potential on track is an aggressive aerodynamic pack that includes a smooth underbody, front air curtain, huge rear wing and subtle vortex generators that, combined, are claimed to ensure the best possible balance between downforce and drag.
Large Brembo brakes, a new multi-link rear suspension, adaptive dampers, torque vectoring and a limited-slip differential complete the circuit-friendly Type R specs.
According to the Japanese car-maker it has plans to break more lap records at other undisclosed circuits in the future.
Honda's giant-killing Civic Type R placed second in Australia's Best Driver's Car 2018, toppling a field of far more expensive performance cars.
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