Earlier in the current week, Honda announced its successful attempt to reclaim the front-wheel-drive circuit record at the Nürburgring with the 2023 Honda Civic Type R. Nevertheless, the authenticity of the achievement is now being challenged, as per a report from Carscoops, suggesting that the Type R had undergone modifications that won’t be standard for production models.
The achieved lap time stood at 7:44.881, narrowly surpassing the 7:45.389 record held by the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R. (Though slightly slower compared to the prior model’s record of 7:43.8, it’s noted that this was accomplished on a different course layout.) Suspicions are now arising that Honda might have achieved those crucial fractions of a second through alterations to the special “S Grade” model vehicle utilized.
2023 Honda Civic Type R “S Grade” setting the FWD lap record at the Nürburgring. Honda
The Civic Type R S Grade reportedly represents a more stripped-down variation, eliminating features such as air conditioning, tonneau cover, parking sensors, cargo net hooks, auto-dimming rearview mirror, visor lights, and navigation equipment. Additionally, it swaps power mirrors for manual, unheated units, achieving a subtle yet undisclosed weight reduction. This variant is purportedly exclusively available in left-hand-drive European markets, excluding the U.S. and right-hand-drive markets.
According to the manufacturer’s press statement in Europe: “The lap time was achieved using a Type R variant that is a lighter iteration of the newest model, slated for ordering solely in European LHD markets under the moniker Type R S Grade. The record lap was completed utilizing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect tires, which will be offered for sale directly through Michelin.“
Moreover, disparities go beyond that. The European edition boasts 325 horsepower compared to the U.S. market’s 315, and the vehicle that set the record employed tires not part of the standard offering. It reportedly rolled on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect tires, while the Type R’s stock tire is the more road-friendly Pilot Sport 4S. These specialized tires can be acquired through Honda dealerships and Michelin directly but are not factory-fitted. The potential availability of the S Grade model in the U.S. remains uncertain—Honda opted not to disclose details on this aspect or the extent of weight reduction achieved by the variant.
Lap records, as it stands, can be quite contentious. Factors such as weather conditions, tire specifications, track adjustments, and even the driver’s pre-race meal can make all the difference between breaking a record and going unnoticed. Though these achievements may not hold profound significance, there’s an aversion to being misled—or witnessing the spectacle that is the rivalry within the high-performance automotive segment being disrespected.
Do you have a tip or query for the author? Contact them at: james@thedrive.com
