HRC unveils Civic Type R GT that will race in 2024

Back at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda Racing surprised everyone by revealing a concept version of the Civic Type R as a successor of the NSX GT in Japan's Autobacs Super GT racing series. Now, HRC is ready to rack up the test mileage ahead of its debut.

HRC unveiled the new Civic Type R GT at the Okayama International Circuit, where Honda will conduct its first shakedown test ahead of the 2024 Super GT racing season.

From the outside, the Civic Type R GT bears some resemblance to both the FL5 road car and the concept version shown back in January, but it's expected to be very different under the skin. The front grille has much larger openings than what its concept iteration had, and its rear door handles have been removed.

Honda says the Civic Type R GT is equipped with a 2.0-liter direct injection four-cylinder turbo like the road car, but we reckon it's a bespoke race engine made by HRC rather than based on the K20C1 of the FL5.

Other specifications have not been revealed by HRC just yet. And should the Class One regulations of Super GT remain unchanged for 2024, we could see the Civic Type R GT race in rear-wheel-drive form.

HRC will participate in two days of testing with the Civic Type R GT at the Okayama International Circuit from July 25 to 26, 2023.