J.A.S. Motorsport gives first glimpse of Honda Civic TCR

Honda's Italian touring car partner J.A.S. Motorsport recently revealed the first image of the Honda Civic TCR that will compete for the new  2015 TCR International Series which will kick off at the end of March.

Based on the European Honda Civic Type-R that debuted during the 2014 Paris Motor Show, its exterior and engineering is being designed and built by the Italian racing team. The body features a gray paint job, a ventilated hood, an altered front bumper, narrower side skirts, a wider wheel arch and a roof-mounted spoiler.

The Italian team which developed the Honda's WTCC program is responsible for engineering the new TCR car. No specifics were given about the Honda Civic TCR's powertrain but according to J.A.S. Motorsport, Honda's tuning arm Mugen will look after the car's engine development and construction.

“The price cap and the technical regulations for the new TCR class match perfectly the needs of the Touring Car market and it enables us to extend our offer to Honda customers around the world. The price of the base car and the affordable running costs will allow many drivers and teams to participate in numerous national and regional championships, while the TCR International Series will be a worldwide showcase for more ambitious outfits,” said Alessandro Mariani, Managing Director of J.A.S. Motorsport.

Swedish racing team West Coast Racing will be the first racing team that will make use of Honda Civic TCRs in the competition. Mads Fischer, Business Development and Customer Service Manager of J.A.S., stated that the team's existing touring car customers have been asking for a new a car for quite awhile. After West Coast Racing announced that they will use the new Honda Civic, customers from Asia have already shown interest in the TCR Project.

The Honda Civic TCR will make its performance debut on March 29, 2015 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.