The latest Honda Civic Type R TCR, based on the FL5 model, is the third car built to TCR regulations by JAS Motorsport since Marcello Lotti’s brainchild emerged in 2015 and succeeds the FK7 that was introduced for 2018.
Due to the ongoing challenges with the supply chain, the Italian operation’s aim was to produce 15 cars this year. In early rounds of the various TCR series worldwide, JAS supplied cars to customers on a round-by-round basis until their own machines were ready, but it has exceeded its target by getting 22 out of the door by September with lead times now roughly two months.
“I would say that we are probably where we should be,” JAS Motorsport’s TCR project leader Mads Fischer tells Autosport. “Honda put a lot of effort into the new FL5 and they have probably sold a lot more cars than expected. Also there it’s difficult to get enough material because the lead time of automotive parts is more critical than it was some years ago.”
After debugging some teething troubles and working in collaboration with customers, Fischer says the car “is starting to be stable” as issues are ironed out and optimised set-ups are devised. A first title was earned last month in Super Taikyu’s ST-TCR division by the M&K Racing squad that has ex-Formula 1 racer Shinji Nakano on its driving strength.
Reliability and ease of servicing have been important considerations, Fischer adds, with customers ranging from professional racing teams to plucky privateers operating out of a garage.
“Generally people are very happy about what we have done,” he explains. “It was easy for us to just make a copy-paste from the old car into a new chassis. But as the old car is the fifth year that it has been running, almost six, we decided to make a lot of changes in terms of electrics, layout, aero, making a car which is completely different. We made a complete new car.”
Here are the key features of the new machine, which in sprint trim is priced at €146,000.
Source: Autosport