The new HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
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Civic WTCCHonda Civic WTCCJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
will take to the track competitively for the first time this weekend at the World Touring Car Championship round at Suzuka. Former F1 driver Tiago Monteiro will be behind the wheel. The Civic WTCC is powered by a brand new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. 

"The entire team has been preparing for Suzuka ever since we announced our entry into the WTCC in February. It has obviously been a huge challenge, but we're here and we're ready.

"Part of the drive to get the car and team ready for these last three races of the 2012 WTCC calendar is that this race in Suzuka is so important to Honda. In 1962 our visionary founder Soichiro Honda designed this circuit - the very first racing circuit in Asia - so we were very motivated to make it here and be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary," said Daisuke Horiuchi, the WTCC Development Project Leader at Honda R&D.

The Civic WTCC will compete in the final three rounds of the WTCC at Suzuka, Shanghai and Macau. The team will enter two cars at the start of the 2013 season with Gabriele Tarquini driving the second car. Honda says that the three races this season will be used to further develop the car.

J.A.S Motorsport developed the European Civic 5-door for racing; Honda created the 1.6-liter turbo engine and Mugen will be building and maintaining the engines for the team. 

This year is also the 40th anniversary of the CivicHonda CivicJapan, 1972 > present10 series
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.