Honda Racing is targeting further success as the MSA British Touring Car Championship makes its annual trip to Scotland for rounds 15 and 16 of the UK’s premier race series. Underlining the new Civic Type-R’s increasing competitiveness, Honda has come close to toppling Vauxhall’s dominance in recent races with Andy Priaulx posting impressive top three podium results at both Croft and Snetterton. The team is now seeking further success this weekend at the punishing Knockhill circuit set high up in the spectacular countryside of Fife to the north of Edinburgh.

Although encouraged by the Civic’s current form, Honda Racing knows it has a mountain to climb this weekend. The team has no previous experience with the Civic at Knockhill, a small, twisty circuit with its very own unique characteristics. Often described as an ‘asphalted rally course’, the track snakes its way through the typically Scottish scenery presenting drivers and technicians with an ultra-challenging cocktail of blind crests, high kerbs, tight hairpins and plunging corners. With no previous data to help, Honda Racing will have only two 40-minute familiarisation sessions on Saturday morning to fine tune the Civic’s chassis to the intricacies of the circuit before official qualifying and Sunday’s two showdowns.

"It won’t be easy," admits Honda Racing team principal Mike Earle. "But we know that the Civic is now a potential winner and that’s a big incentive for us to work hard and get it right. Despite our relative inexperience, I’m confident that our two drivers will be in the mix for further podiums on Sunday afternoon."

What’s more, with both the championship leaders starting the weekend carrying the maximum amount of success ballast following their one-two result in round 14, Priaulx and team-mate Alan Morrison have a great opportunity to maximise their advantage in the handicapping. Having failed to finish the previous round, the two Civic Type Rs arrive at Knockhill on the minimum weight limit – and that should be a real boon on a track that includes a tight hairpin followed by a long, uphill straight.

"In theory Knockhill is one of those circuits where the extra weight will really count, so we should be in a strong position," admits Morrison. "However, it won’t be easy. Vauxhall competed here last year and thus have a huge head start over us in terms of track knowledge; we will have to pull out all of the stops if we are to make our weight advantage count. That said, this is a big chance for us and with just six races left this season, we can’t afford to let such opportunities slip."