Honda enter WTCC
Japanese manufacturer announce full works team
By William Esler - Twitter @SkySportsWill. Last Updated: February 3, 2012 1:46pm
Honda will race new Civic in WTCC
Honda have confirmed they will enter the World Touring Car Championship as a full works team, racing their new Civic five-door.
The Japanese manufacturer are the reigning British Touring Car Championship title holder and have underlined their commitment to motorsport with this additional project which will run independently of the UK operation.
J.A.S Motorsport, who ran a works Honda outfit in the BTCC in 1998 and 1999, have been recruited to build and run the cars, with Honda and Mugen developing the engine.
The new chassis will be built to the FIA's S2000 rules, with a brand new 1.6 turbo petrol engine.
Honda plan to develop the car this season and run it in final three rounds of the 2012 championship (Japan, China and Macau), before launching a full two car assault on the championship in 2013.
Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said: "We have made a decision to enter into the WTCC with the European Civic.
"We will develop a totally new engine for this project and we are all excited about starting this new challenge."
Challenge
The entry will provide a much-needed second works entry to the WTCC, after the withdrawal of BMW and Seat left Chevrolet unchallenged as the sole manufacturer.
Honda will continue in the BTCC with Team Dynamics running NGTC versions of the new Civic.
