Civic Type R Chief Engineer Says They’ll Keep FWD Ring Record No Matter What
By Paulo Acoba
Top Gear landed an exclusive informal interview with the 2015 Honda Civic Type R’s Chief Engineer Hisayuki Yagi earlier this week (June. 2, 2015) and he pretty much flat out said that the new Honda Civic Type R will keep the Nurburgring Ring Record no matter what. And if any car manufacturer tries to steal that record, they’ll take it right back! Them’s fighting words and its refreshing to hear someone in Honda with that type of fighting spirit in him, even when it’s from an engineer.
The current Nurburgring Record is held by the 2015 Honda Civic Type R with a run time of 7:53:63. The previous record was held by the 2014 Renault Megane 275 Trophy R when they set a very close record earlier last year with a time of 7:54:36. Some people may argue that the 2015 Honda Civic Type R wasn’t a true production car with the subtraction of the AC unit and the addition of a roll cage, but Honda’s engineers, “insists that the prototype’s engine, suspension and tyres were exactly as per the production car.” And that roll cage adding stiffness? They were fixed to rubber blocks thus adding NO RIGIDITY.
According to Top Gear’s interview with Yagi, he stated quite bluntly that, “If someone takes our fastest lap, we’ll take it back.” Shots fired! Yagi further stated that “if it’s a strictly limited edition, then we would have to think carefully whether we would do a car to beat that. But on the other hand if a rival makes a car of comparable spec and features as the Type R, we would have to go back and beat it.” Yagi was pretty much goading on other car manufacturers to try their best. And this is the man who wants another NSX Type R.
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To understand the 2015 Honda Civic Type R, you must understand the Type R philosophy. Honda’s engines necessarily don’t have to be the most powerful when compared to competitors, but as racecars from the factory, their number one aim is to be quick never at the expense of the driver. You won’t have a stripped interior, but don’t expect a head unit, A/C, lots of sound deading or plush seats.And when it comes to being King of the Mountain in the hot hatch kingdom, you’d better have the Ring Record under your belt.