Honda has today (Friday 3rd Feb) announced that it is to enter the FIA World Touring Car Championship with a campaign to be spearheaded by long-time Honda partner JAS Motorsport.
The Japanese manufacturer, last seen in the world championship in 2008 when N.Technology ran a pair of independent Accord’s, will compete with the Honda Civic powered by a 1.6 litre Mugen engine. Honda’s R&D department will develop the engine which will subsequently be manufactured and maintained by Mugen.
“We have made a decision to enter into the WTCC with the European Civic,” said Honda CEO Takanobu Ito. “We will develop a totally new engine for this project and we are all excited about starting this new challenge.”
Discussions are currently being held with the WTCC’s organiser, the FIA, about the firm entering several ‘inaugural rounds’ this season. Provisionally these are planned to include Japan in October followed by China and Macau to close the season. It is planned that a two-car team will be entered for the entire 2013 season.
Honda’s plans to contest several rounds in 2012 brings the number of manufacturer’s expressing an interest in returning to the series to three; both LADA and SEAT are currently increasing their development activities this season with a view to potentially returning to the series full-time. However Chevrolet remains the only full-season works team for the coming season.
The decision to enter the WTCC is being made separately to the UK arm of the company’s plans to race in the British Touring Car Championship. Matt Neal, reigning BTCC champion, and Gordon Shedden will this season contest the British series in two NGTC-specification new Civics.