The Honda Civic Coupe supercar campaigned by Olsbergs MSE in Global Rallycross in 20016 and 2017 has been given approval to compete in FIA-sanctioned rallycross events.
The car has been sidelined since Honda’s departure from GRC at the end of last year. While it has took part in private and group World Rallycross tests in Europe, the car hasn’t raced since last October. Now after being approved by by Swedish regulators following a delay to clear up the internal dimensions of the car, it has been added to the ‘list of cars not homologated with the FIA but eligible in Supercar’ according to a report by Motorsport.com.
“Nobody has done anything wrong really, it’s just taken a while to get it on the list because it’s a Coupe, there’s a lot of measurements that have needed to be done for people to be sure,” OMSE boss Andreas Eriksson told Motorsport.com.
With the ruling, the car is now eligible to take part in World RX and Americas Rallycross, despite it not fully complying to FIA regulations. Since being mothballed at the end of 2017 the three Civics have been available for sale or rent, but so far there have been no takers. Eriksson believes that with the ruling, finding new homes for the cars will become easier.
“Because the car is only sold in America that has made it a little harder, but it’s on the list now and we are starting to renovate the cars so they are back in business,” Eriksson said. “The Honda will come massively improved I think.”
“We are also making it fit to FIA rules, we need to make sure they are legal in every way. I personally like the Honda, even if it’s big, it’s different and looks different.”
According to Eriksson, Honda are interested in a US rallycross return. Its exit from GRC came at the end of an agreed two-year commitment. Following its departure, GRC folded completely while World RX promoters IMG founded the new Americas Rallycross championship with former-GRC teams Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, Subaru Rally Team USA, and Loenbro Motorsports all moving over to the new championship.
“Exactly what we’re doing with the Honda going forward we haven’t decided yet, but we will make sure they are ready and competitive,” Eriksson told Motorsport.com. “Honda want to do something, they didn’t stop rallycross because they didn’t like it, they stopped because it wasn’t making sense because of different happenings. They are still very keen to do it, it fits their market.”
“Honda is huge in north America so I think it’s important to have them involved.”
The Civic won once in GRC, at Louisville in the hands of Sebastian Eriksson – Credit: Louis Yio/Red Bull Global Rallycross
