JAS Motorsport’s all-new Honda Civic Type-R FL5 will make its global début in next weekend’s TCR UK series, with Restart Racing and Chris Smiley to give the new car its first race outing.
Northern Irishman Smiley will be behind the wheel of the first of 17 customer cars which have been built by JAS Motorsport at its base in Arluno in Milan, Italy.
Snetterton in Norfolk will be the venue to see the new car take to the track for the first time anywhere in the world.
“We’re so excited to confirm the global racing debut of the new Honda Civic Type R TCR for Easter weekend with Restart Racing in TCR UK at Snetterton,” said Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader.
“We’ve spent a long time working on the concept and design and testing has gone extremely well with our test driver Néstor Girolami reporting the FL5 car is an improvement over the old model in virtually every area.
“Restart Racing and Chris Smiley made a fantastic impact in TCR UK by winning on their debut at Oulton Park last year with the FK7 Civic and then taking the championship as well.
“I’m confident that with the latest and most technically-advanced TCR car in the world, they can once again fight for the title, as can all of our customer racing teams globally.”
A brand new car, the FL5 Civic has a new exterior design and aerodynamics, improved cornering stability and better driver safety.
The braking and transmission systems have been upgraded, whilst the car features a race-prepared version of the two-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine seen in the Type R production car.
As with other Civic models, an endurance version of the car will also be offered, with teams in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in North America also planning a switch to the new car during 2023.