Unprecedented excitement as first cars arrive for TCR Thailand 10.04.2016: A new sensation. Easy words to bandy about but the reaction to the arrival of the first two

A new sensation. Easy words to bandy about but the reaction to the arrival of the first two cars destined for TCR Thailand has been nothing short of sensational.


Photos of the brace of ‘body in white’ racecars sitting in a crumbling, dusty freight yard in Lat Krabang in front of the 40-foot shipping container they had just been unloaded from after making the long journey from Italy zoomed round and round the Internet within minutes of being posted.


In fact within just 48 hours the photos had racked up an unprecedented 18,000 shares and 800 comments. Quite simply no new racecar for many years has generated more interest in Thailand than the 'Model Year 2016' Honda Civic TCR ‘Step 2’.


 Only 2 cars have arrived but already it bodes well for the success of TCR Thailand, which will kick off with its first ever races next month.
 

The two cars were ordered by the TBN MK I Here team and the drivers, Khun Nattachak Hanjitkasem and Khun Wijak Lertprasertpakorn were on hand to take delivery.


The former flew to Italy last month to test the Civic TCR and so he was already somewhat familiar with the striking new machine.


“It’s my second time to see the Civic TCR,” said Khun Nattachak. “So I think Mr. Wijak is more excited than me. I was really excited to see for the exterior I really like the widebody and the big rear wing. Inside J.A.S. has done a good job with a clean and well arranged cockpit.”
 

The arrival of the visually striking ‘Civic TCR’ racecars has certainly resonated with Thai motorsport fans and ‘under the skin’ it’s clearly an impressively specified machine.


The heart of the MY2016 ‘Step 2’ version is a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cyl PU with around 330 hp and 400 Nm available. Composite ducting surrounds the engine water radiator and intercooler while the PU is hooked up to a Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox.


 The suspension has been uprated for 2016 with Ohlins shocks while stopping power comes from 6-pot calipers and 378 mm discs at the front, complimented by 2-pot calipers and 261mm discs at the rear and it all sits on 18x10 O.Z. Racing wheels.




Inside there is a composite seat, welded roll cage integrated dash and steering wheel with paddle shifters – this is clearly a car that’s meant to be driven in an exciting style.


The whole package weighs in at 1260 kg (although it will be further subject to series BoP for the final weight).


The Civic TCR already has a championship win under its belt as Hong Kong driver Michael Choi won the inaugural TCR Asia Series title last year after claiming victory in both races that supported the Singapore Grand Prix and taking a further three podiums to romp away at the top of the points classification.
 

But in TCR International Series the J.A.S. built Civic TCR wasn’t able to fully get on terms with the SEAT Léon Cup Racer and that’s what the Italian company has been addressing over the winter – they expect to be pushing for every win this year.


“The car is a little step forward from what we saw at the end of 2015,” J.A.S. engineer, Khun Giancarlo Bruno, who was responsible for developing the MY2016 car, dubbed the ‘Step 2’, told TCR media during the official series BoP test on 22-23 March.


Much work, as well as many testing kilometers, has gone into shaping up the revised package. “The engine is new and comes from the new series car, the Civic Type-R, which was introduced last year,” Khun Bruno continued.


 “Considering the new engine location at J.A.S. we decided to change the location of some of the parts, radiator and heat exchanger. We also changed the suspensions and in particular the front shock absorbers.”
 

While the car's performance envelope has been pushed out, J.A.S. has ensured driveability hasn’t been diluted. “We tried to keep the car easy to manage, to set up and also to drive because these cars are for privateers and if the car gives confidence then it becomes easier to reach a higher level of performance,” says Khun Bruno.


The Italian engineer is very impressed by the TCR concept and its strength in depth coming from growing manufacturer interest meant they had to push hard with the ‘Step 2’ car.


“There are many new cars and some arrived at the last minute and need a bit of time for development,” said Khun Bruno.


“But the fact that there are two, three, four new manufactures proves that the championship will be very interesting and that the level of competition will be very high," he continues.


 "It is very interesting not only from a sporting point of view but also from a manufacturers point of view and that’s why they are so much involved.


And additionally the national championships are booming. And that proves that the model of the championship is the right one.”


Last year in the TCR International Series the Civic TCR took six wins, three of those victories were notched up by Gianni Morbidelli and two by Kevin Gleason with the other going to Rob Huff.


During the 2016 TCR International Series opener in Bahrain last weekend the new ‘Step 2’ Civic TCR made its racing debut and it certainly was once again the car up to challenge the SEATs for P1 with Morbidelli claiming the runners up spot in the first race.
 

In terms of getting on track in Thailand these are the first cars for what is a brand new series and that means it’s not quite as simple as turning the ignition switch and getting out to test, there's quite a careful learning process – and a bit of thinking – to be undertaken first.


Khun Nattachak explains, “At the moment both cars are parked at Toyota TBN showroom, Latkrabang branch,” he says. “We do not know much about this car right now we will have to wait for race engineer to explain more about it.


Also at the moment we cannot start up the engine due to special fuel that we do not have yet. This week we will have a team meeting for this year’s racing.”
 



- Edd Ellison -  also photos