The new 2023 Honda Civic Type R Pace Car has been unveiled. It will lead the NTT Indycar Series field to the green flag for upcoming weekend's season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the Florida Gulf Coast. It is the latest addition in a series of Honda Pace Cars utilized for Indycar competition since 2006.
Since the US launch of the Civic Type R in 2017, the car gathered praise for its exceptional balance of dynamic performance and everyday drivability. The Type R has also earned a strong reputation among professional racers who use it in the SRO Touring Car America and other global racing series.
The new Civic Type R Indycar Pace Car takes the game to the next level as it is the most powerful model in the Type R's 30-year history, and gains from additional enhancements made to the production Honda Civic Type R, such as a brand-new immersive cockpit experience and a sleek, muscular new look.
More about the 2023 Civic Type R Pace Car
Honda engineers conducted extensive testing at racetracks in Japan, North America, and Europe to further improve the Civic Type R's chassis, which was already best in class in ride handling and steering performance. As a result, the all-new Type R Pace Car is now more enjoyable and satisfying to drive due to increased responsiveness, comfort, and excitement.Civic Type R Pace Car features the ultimate version of Honda's K20C1 engine. The turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine now produces 315 horsepower and 420Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque (9 hp and 20Nm more than before), making the Civic Type R one of the most powerful cars in its class per litre, with a specific output of 157.8 horsepower per litre, compared to the previous generation's 153.3 horsepower per litre. It is also the most powerful Honda production vehicle ever sold in the U.S. A reworked turbocharger and a new straight-pipe exhaust system with an active exhaust valve further enhance the performance of the Civic Type R Pace Car.
The Type R Pace Car is equipped with 2023 Type R's six-speed manual transmission, which is further improved by a lighter flywheel, a revised rev-match system, a high-rigidity lever and an optimized shift gate pattern. A standard helical-type limited-slip differential effectively transfers the engine's power to the wheels.
The new Pace Car also comes with an extended wheelbase, wider front and rear tracks and a retuned dual-axis strut front along with a multilink rear suspension. It also receives a Honda Performance Development brake package, including competition rotors, racing pads and stainless steel brake lines; and four-point racing harnesses. Honda graphics and a customised pace car lighting system complete the Civic Type R's transformation into an Indycar Series pace car.
The Honda Racing Line program offers three ready-to-race Civic models, including the affordable and reliable Civic Si TCA race car, the track-focused Civic Type R TC racer, and the championship-winning Civic Type R TCR race car. Honda Performance Development (HPD) offers a full line of performance parts for these vehicles and provides exceptional trackside support at all levels, which is an exclusive advantage that sets them apart from other manufacturers.
