Watch The Honda Civic Type R Go 3sec Faster Than The Old One At Spa

A couple of years ago, Honda took it upon itself to set the front-wheel drive lap records at five European circuits with the FK2 Civic Type R. So far as we can see, no one has bothered to try and break them.

So, Honda is now going back to four of the five to smash its own records with the newer FK8-gen Type R. The car has already set a new FWD lap record at Magny-Cours with 2013 FIA WEC LMP2 champ Bertrand Baguette at the wheel, and the Belgian has since been dispatched to Spa-Francorchamps.

There, the current Super GT driver - who currently competes in an NSX-R - managed a scorching 2:53.72 lap, 3.19 seconds faster than the FK2. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Next up, Honda will be shaving time off its own records at Silverstone, Estoril, and the Hungaroring. That just leaves Monza - it doesn’t look like the manufacturer will be returning there. The driver line-up for the attempts consists of F1 champion Jenson Button (who’s also racing an NSX in Super GT), WTCR driver Tiago Monteiro and BTCC’s Matt Neal.

The question is, will any other manufacturers attempt to challenge Honda this time?