Can the Honda Civic Type R go rallying?

May 28,2019

UK FIRMS Ralph Hosier Engineering and Team Dynamics Motorsport have come up with two very different versions of the Honda Civic Type R.

The Team Dynamics Motorsport version is basically a road-legal racecar fitted with a selection of bespoke modifications and readily available parts. Changes made to the car’s ECU, induction system, intercooler, sports catalytic converter and exhaust system have yielded a 25% gain in performance — or 400hp and 500Nm. Helping control this output are stuff like Goodridge stainless performance braided brake hoses, Eibach Pro performance springs, adjustable antiroll bars and rear camber arms, and Dunlop DZ03G track day tires wrapped around Team Dynamics’ 19-inch Pro-Race lightweight competition-derived wheels. It’s quite a car, this.

Well, Team Dynamics Motorsport is the driving force behind the Honda British Touring Car Championship works team, so the result isn’t the least bit surprising.

But between the two cars, it’s the Ralph Hosier Engineering Civic Type R that is more intriguing. Because in this case the Civic Type R is pitched as a rally car.

Raised over four inches and equipped with huge mud-plugging tires, the Civic Type OveRland, as it is named, is hugely influenced by Rally Raid, Overland and Safari models meant for rally and adventure racing. The Civic Type R’s complex antitorque steer dual-axis strut arrangement has been retained to let the suspension’s fundamental design work as the factory intended. At the rear, a bespoke trailing arm mounting and modified transverse links have lifted the car three inches higher than standard. Transferring this to the tarmac or mud — or whatever terrain, actually — are 255/55/18 BF Goodrich tires wrapped around rally-derived, lightweight wheels.

Finished in iconic Championship White the concept Civic Type OveRland accentuates a familiar but different feel to the stock Civic Type R.

“These two wildly different interpretations of the Civic Type R showcase the standard car’s attributes, but also reflect the advanced, sporty and playful nature of the entire Civic range. We have also had a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what can be done with a road car,” says Ralph Hosier, owner of the firm bearing his name.

Honda UK provided pre-production versions of the Civic Type R to both companies to create their version of what a Civic Type R could be. And while there are no plans for either to be put to production, both Team Dynamics and Ralph Hosier Engineering have said they will create one-off versions for discerning customers.

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