When Honda decided to build an all new Civic Type R hot hatchback, it was decided that it had to be the fastest front wheel drive on track, any track, all race tracks. This hot hatch was built to take the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for front-wheel drive production cars which was a time of 7:50.63. Then came the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R which did a time of 7:54.36 a month after the Civic had a go. Then the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S tried its luck and reduced the time by 1.4 seconds to set a lap of 7:49.21.
Now Honda has set the FWD production car lap record at five race circuits across Europe. First came the Silverstone GP circuit in 2:44.45 in the wet and then again in the dry a time of 2:31.85. Next was Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps and a record lap of 2:56.91 seconds was set. At Monza the Civic clocked 2:15.16 and then in Estoril a time of 2:04.08. Finally a time of 2:10.85 gave Honda the Guinness World Record of five FWD lap times at five different circuits.
