Car and Driver: The Honda Civic Type R Now Owns the FWD Lap Record at Five European Tracks [Video]

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-Technically speaking, the Honda Civic Type R is not the quickest front-wheel-drive car around the Nürburgring, as the Volkswagen Golf Clubsport S lapped the circuit 1.4 seconds more quickly recently. But while one could argue that the VW isn’t a proper series-production car—just 400 units are planned and it has its rear seats removed—Honda let the Germans have this one for now, saying they might head back to the Green Hell later to regain the crown. In the meantime, they got busy setting the front-drive lap record at a bunch of other iconic European racetracks.

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Silverstone

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Since this tire slaying was Honda U.K.’s idea, the campaign started at Silverstone in early April. Of course, being Britain, it was raining. Three-time British Touring Car Champion and generally crazy-fast guy Matt Neal did a 2:44.45, before following up a month later in the dry and turning a 2:31.85. Time for a pint!

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Spa

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Less than two weeks after Silverstone, Honda went to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The clouds stayed away, and Honda Racing driver Rob Huff tripped the timing equipment at 2:56.91.

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Monza

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At the end of May, Honda’s Hungarian WTCC star Norbert Mihelisz drove the car at Monza, piloting a stock Type R around in 2:15.16. Szép munka, as they say 500 miles to the east.

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Estoril

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After a crash during the WTCC Race of Germany put scheduled wheelman Tiago Monteiro out of action (he’s since returned to action), fellow Portuguese racer and WTCC safety-car driver Bruno Correia got the call on 24 hours’ notice. With just one day in the car, he set a time of 2:04.8 at his home circuit. A walk in the park!

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• Honda Civic Type R Engine: So Powerful, The Had to Build It in America-
• Honda Civic Type R First Drive Review: The Power of Screams-
• 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Debuts, Could Preview Next-Gen U.S.-Spec Type R-

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Hungaroring

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Mihelisz won the Hungarian race last year, also becoming the Independent WTCC Champion with Zengő Motorsport. He’s since received a bump up to the Honda factory team and adopted an all-black Type R as his daily driver. So it’s not exactly surprising that he could lap this track in 2:10.85?

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A version of this story originally appeared on Road & Track.

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