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Honda UK and Mission Motorsport create first ever CR-V diesel race car for Race of Remembrance
- Family SUV loaned by Swindon factory specially adapted to go racing
- Race of Remembrance starts at 3pm Saturday 11th November
- Honda Civic Type R triumphed last year – “We couldn’t let them have it too easy”
Honda UK has today unveiled a one-off CR-V race car, designed and built by Mission Motorsport, the Forces’ Motorsport Charity. Competing at the Race of Remembrance at Anglesey circuit in Wales this weekend, the car was developed in partnership with the charity and associates from Synchro race team at the factory in Swindon.
The CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC AWD EX, the most powerful in the range, was chosen as the foundation for the build. The 9-speed automatic transmission makes it possible for the amputees in the team to be able to drive. The team racing the car this weekend includes: Private Lionel O’Connor who lost his left leg when serving with the Royal Anglian Regiment in Iraq in 2006, Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE, 2016 Gold medal Paralympian who lost his left arm when serving with the RAF in Iraq in 2007, along with able-bodied driver, motoring journalist Alex Goy and Mission Motorsport’s CEO and chief instructor, Major (Retd) James Cameron completing the team and guiding the three novice racers.
The car has been heavily modified by Mission Motorsport in order to go racing. The large panoramic glass roof has been replaced with a clear Perspex panel for safety reasons. Inside the car, all the interior has been removed except the dashboard, plus a bespoke roll cage was fabricated and installed along with racing seats and harnesses. Dynamically, special suspension had to be sourced, adapted and added to significantly lower the centre of gravity; plus custom radial brackets had to be made to allow the large Brembo brakes from a Civic Type R to be fitted. Wider wheels from a Civic Sport have been used to clear the new brakes. Adjustable camber control arms have been fabricated to allow the set up to accommodate the significantly lowered ride height, while at the front of the car, regulation-towing hooks have been fitted. The Race of Remembrance runs in the dark for 6 hours, and so an additional LED light bar has been integrated into the grille, with bonnet and roof scoops installed to aid engine and driver cooling during the 12 hours of the race.
The Race of Remembrance takes place at Anglesey in Wales on the 11th and 12th November. Returning for the fourth year it commemorates the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families. 45 teams will start the race at 3pm on Saturday and continue into the darkness until 9pm, it will resume on Sunday at 9am, pausing for the truly special Remembrance Service which takes place in the pit lane and involves drivers, pit crew, marshals, race officials and spectators.
“This is a really unique project we are tremendously proud to be a part of” said Phil Webb, head of car at Honda UK. “The team at Mission Motorsport have worked night and day getting the car ready to race while Syncho Motorsport have been on hand to offer advice. We can’t wait to see the CR-V out on track, a first for the model.”
“Last year, a Civic Type R from the Synchro Motorsport team won the Invitational class at the race” said James Cameron, CEO at Mission Motorsport. “We were very keen to work with Honda again and have a Honda on the grid. However, we couldn’t let them have it too easy and the idea of the race CR-V was born.”
“I’m nervous, but excited at the same time” said Lionel O’Connor ”I only passed my ARDS test two weeks ago, and while I’ve done a lot of car control driving with the charity this is another step altogether. The CR-V looks incredible and I’m very fortunate to get to race it.”
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For further information, please contact:
Simon Branney, Section Manager Car PR
01344 888644
Tom Lynch, Press Officer & Fleet Coordinator (Cars)
01344 888631
About Honda
Honda (UK) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda (Japan).
One of the top 20 brands in the world, Honda manufacturers a broad product range encompassing cars, motorcycles, power products (including marine, energy, lawn and garden and ATV) and aviation and was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand, Acura, in 1986.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959,as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.
Since 1986, Honda has been involved with artificial intelligence/robotics research and released their ASIMO robot in 2000. Honda has also ventured into aerospace with the establishment of GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004 and the Honda HA-420 HondaJet, which began production in 2012.
Honda has over 55 years of World Championship Racing. Today, Honda is an active participant in Formula One, motorcycle, touring car and ATV racing and draws upon its proud racing heritage in every aspect of business.
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