The Honda Civic Type R is continuing its domination at European race tracks, and racked up another lap record, this time at Estoril in Portugal.
Following records at the Nürburgring, Magny-Cours, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps, Honda UK took a production spec FK8 Type-R, and planted Honda WTCR driver Tiago Monteiro in the driver's seat, who proceeded to set a new FWD lap record at Estoril, with a time of 2:01.84 - beating the 228kw FK2's time by 3 seconds.
The iconic Estoril track is 4.2km long with two hairpins, a difficult chicane and a very long main straight, which means drivers experience an unusually broad range of speeds over one lap. It therefore rewards cars with a great breadth of ability that combine fast acceleration with exceptional handling. Interestingly, the 235kw FK8 was only 6 seconds off the Mclaren F1's pace at the 4.2km long track.
Speaking about the benchmark time, Tiago Monteiro said: “We came here with a goal to beat the existing lap record set by the previous car but you can never take anything for granted – I mean it’s a lap record so it’s no easy feat. You have to have supreme confidence in the car to attack around Estoril, and the new Type R is just so powerful, smooth and confidence-inspiring. We beat the lap record, smashed the record actually.”
The new benchmark time at Estoril is the fourth front-wheel drive lap record set by Honda in 2018. The endeavour mirrored a similar effort by Honda in 2016 with the previous-generation Type R, which set front-wheel drive benchmark times at Estoril, Hungaroring, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.
The next target on the Type-R's radar is a lap record at the Hungaroring, where former F1 World Champion and Honda ambassador, Jenson Button is expected to take the wheel. The time to beat is a 2:10.85, set by the FK2 Type-R - a mere 2 seconds slower than the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
The South African spec Civic Type-R produces slightly less power than the UK-spec model, due to our extreme climate. Power is down from 235kw to 228kw, but the 2.0-litre turbocharger motor’s torque remains constant at 400nm. Expect 0 to 100kph in just 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 272kph. Honda retails the FK8 Type-R for R635 500 in South Africa, and it comes standard with a 5-year/90 000 km service plan and a 5-year/200 000 km warranty.
Also worth a look: the Honda Amaze and the Honda Elevate: WR-V Successor Debuts in SA.
FAQ
Q: What does the Honda Civic Type R FK8 cost in South Africa?
The Honda Civic Type R FK8 was priced at around R679,900 when it was available in South Africa, making it a proper performance bargain compared to European hot hatches that cost well over R800,000.
Q: Is the Honda Civic Type R FK8 worth buying?
Absolutely, the FK8 Type R delivers 235kW of front-wheel drive fury and holds multiple lap records across European circuits, proving it can embarrass supercars costing three times as much.
Q: How fast is the Honda Civic Type R FK8 compared to supercars?
The FK8 Type R was only 6 seconds slower than a McLaren F1 around the 4.2km Estoril circuit and just 2 seconds behind a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta at the Hungaroring, which is mental for a front-wheel drive hatchback.
Q: What makes the Honda Civic Type R FK8 so good on track?
The FK8 combines 235kW of turbocharged power with exceptional chassis tuning and aerodynamics, allowing it to set front-wheel drive lap records at legendary circuits like the Nürburgring, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps.
Q: Should I buy a used Honda Civic Type R FK8 in South Africa?
Used FK8 Type Rs are excellent buys if you can find one, typically selling for R550,000 to R650,000 depending on mileage and condition, and they hold their value brilliantly due to limited numbers imported.
Should You Buy It?
The best track-focused hot hatch under R700,000 in South Africa is absolutely the Honda Civic Type R FK8. With 235kW on tap and lap records at some of Europe's most challenging circuits, this front-wheel drive weapon delivers supercar-embarrassing performance for a fraction of the price. Yes, you should definitely buy one if you can find a good example, because nothing else at this price point combines daily usability with genuine track-day heroics quite like the FK8 Type R.
