Honda has released initial details of two new Touring Car Racer models. The first is the Civic WTCC, the 2014 World Touring Car Championship challenger which reflects the all new technical regulations for the FIA WTCC which will come into force for 2014. The second is the Civic Tourer BTCC, the 2014 British Touring Car Championship challenger, based on the upcoming Civic Tourer; this will be only estate car on the BTCC grid for next season.
The Honda Civic WTCC will be equipped with larger diameter wheels, subtle wheelarch extensions, extended rear spoiler and sleeker aero package. Add all this to increased engine power and the 2014 Honda WTCC racer is clearly ambitious to retain the company’s Manufacturers World Championship crown and allow the drivers to challenge for the World Champion title.
In the WTCC, two works cars will be run by JAS Motorsport for Tiago Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini with further Civic models to be entered by private outfits Proteam Racing and Zengo Motorsport for Hungary’s Moroccan Mehdi Bennani and Norbert Michelisz respectively. In the meantime, for the BTCC, Honda Yuasa Racing will take new Civic Tourer to the track in 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The same championship winning team and driver lineup of Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden and Matt Neal have their sights firmly set on a clean sweep of titles after the Honda Civics secured both the manufacturers’ and teams’ crowns for the 4th year in a row with Flash and Matt narrowly missing out on the drivers’ crown in the 2013 season.
Testing of the new models commence soon in advance of their 2014 season debuts.