Honda to field special Civic Type-R TCR at IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Honda Performance Development (HPD), Honda’s motorsports division, teams up with JAS Motorsport and LA Honda World Racing to enter a special Civic Type-R TCR at the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“HPD is proud of the successful Civic racing programs, and all that has been achieved with the 10th-generation Civic in North America and globally. We have come up with some ways to commemorate this special year for the Civic and are happy to partner with our Honda global family to celebrate the Civic in a fun and unique way,” said HPD Commercial Manager John Whiteman.

The said Honda Civic Type-R TCR will race under the LA Honda World banner and will be driven by IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race winner Mat Pombo and WTCR driver Tiago Monteiro.

“The team and I are honored to add WTCR Champion Tiago Monteiro to our racing team and be an additional historical moment in the Honda Civic TCR legacy on our home turf in Ohio. Having a global star from Europe race with Pombo, Eversley and LaMarra is a significant testament to our team’s ability and the never-ending commitment of Honda being both global and national leaders in racing. The LA Honda World Racing Team is ready to make this moment successful," said LA Honda World Racing President Mario Biundo.

Powering the special Honda Civic Type-R TCR is a JAS-modified version of the Honda K20C1 engine originally built at the Anna engine plant in Ohio.

“It’s fantastic to mark the success of the Honda Civic Type R TCR with this fascinating crossover as WTCR- FIA World Touring Car Cup race winner Tiago Monteiro joins forces with HPD and LA Honda World Racing. To do it at Mid-Ohio, so close to some of Honda’s largest facilities in North America, makes it even more appropriate. Tiago was the lead development driver on the first Honda Civic WTCC and gave the car its debut and its first podium, way back in 2012. He’s been a Honda driver ever since and so is the perfect driver to mark this occasion,” said JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader Mads Fischer.

The event at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course is a home track for Honda and HPD, with multiple facilities for research, development, and manufacturing all located in central Ohio.

Photos from Honda, HAS Motorsport, and LA Honda World Racing

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