Honda Racing gears up for strong BTCC season finale

Honda Racing arrives at Donington Park for the final two rounds of this year’s Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship confident that it can end its successful 2002 campaign on a high note. In recent rounds the Honda Civic Type-R racer has not only demonstrated itself as the most competitive of this season’s newcomers but also a proven winner in the UK’s premier race series.

Andy Priaulx’s well-deserved maiden victory last month at Knockhill came after strong podium finishes in the previous two BTCC meetings. The Civic’s increasing pace was further underlined when Priaulx’s team-mate Alan Morrison claimed a superb second place last time out at Brands Hatch.

“We have come a long way over the past six months and it would be a fitting tribute to what we’ve achieved if we could end the Civic’s debut season with a good result,” says Mike Earle, Honda Racing team principal. “Between them Andy and Alan have scored podium finishes at four successive BTCC meetings and it would be a great way to end the season if we could see both of them standing together on the podium at Donington.”

Adding to the overall sense of optimism, Honda Racing recently enjoyed a productive test at the Midlands circuit with both drivers among the pace-setters. Having finished runner-up at Brands Hatch, Morrison will start the weekend with a heavily ballasted Honda. Priaulx, however, will be well positioned to take maximum advantage of his Civic Type-R’s competitiveness as his car will be favourably handicapped.

“Looking at the weights, the onus will be on me to keep the Honda flag flying high,” admits Priaulx. “That said, Alan is sure to be full of confidence after his great result at Brands Hatch. What’s more we’ve had a chance to test the Civic at Donington Park – and that’s a real bonus as we’ve had to start most of this season’s races with very little data as a result of the severe testing restrictions. So, all in all, there’s a good chance that we can end the Civic’s debut BTCC season with two more strong performances and I’d love to finish the year with another win.”