News
Honda Civic Type R TCR turns Racing Blue for 2021
Honda Australia, Tony D’Alberto and Wall Racing are primed to go one better in the 2021 TCR Australia Series after unveiling a bold blue look at the Phillip Island Circuit this week, just five weeks out from the season-opening race in late January.
Revealed during the official media launch of the updated Civic Type R high-performance hatch for the 2020/21 Year Model, D’Alberto’s new Type R TCR machine has taken design cues directly from its roadgoing sibling and will hero the brilliant ‘Racing Blue’ paint colour that’s instantly recognisable on the new road car.
Originally intended to be a one-round ‘livery takeover’ to launch the updated Civic Type R road car, the striking blue colour scheme will now be a key feature on D’Alberto’s TCR racer throughout the 2021 season.
From the front, the Type R TCR car is almost a perfect match for the road car with a dominant, bold blue face. But as you move rearward, the blue look gradually transitions to the iconic Championship White paintwork and red detailing that is synonymous with Honda’s racing heritage and success at all levels of motorsport.
Proving immensely popular with customers since it arrived in Australia in October, the new Type R Racing Blue is now set for success on the racetrack as well as in the showroom.
After claiming five podium finishes and a pole position on his way to runner-up in the 2019 title, D’Alberto and Wall Racing have their sights set on winning the turbocharged touring car series in 2021.
Wall Racing will field two Honda Civic Type R entries in the 2021 TCR Australia Series, with D’Alberto joined by John Martin in his Mobil 1-backed entry.
The opening round of the 2021 TCR Australia Series will be held at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania on January 24-26.
QUOTES
Robert Thorp
General Manager – Product, Customer & Communications, Honda Australia
“The Civic Type R is a truly exceptional performance car that has won awards and races all around the world over the past three years,” said Thorp.
“The latest update just released for the 2020 Year Model has raised its performance capabilities even further, so to have it represented on the race track via the new Racing Blue livery really emphasises the close relationship between the road car and racecar programs.
“Honda has a proud global racing heritage and is involved in the TCR category all around the world, so it has been an exciting opportunity for Honda Australia to contribute on a domestic level to that long-standing motorsport tradition via the TCR Australia Series.
“Tony demonstrated his top-tier credentials in the inaugural series last year, with the first pole position for the new racing category, multiple podium results and an epic come-from-behind drive in the final race to clinch second place in the championship.
“We know he has lost none of the desire to be up the front again and challenging for race wins when the TCR series kicks off in January down in Tasmania. The entire team at Honda Australia is really looking forward to seeing the new ‘Racing Blue’ car in action and we are right behind Tony and Wall Racing as they look to go one better in 2021.”
Tony D’Alberto
Driver, Honda Civic Type R TCR, Wall Racing
“There’s always something special about starting a new season with a new look,” said D’Alberto.
“The TCR class is a true road-to-race touring car category, so highlighting the new Racing Blue paint colour of the road-going version is a great way for us to show how closely linked the racecar is to the road car. Plus it looks fantastic!
“Our aim in 2021 is simple – we want to win the title and we are in the best place to achieve that. The Honda Civic Type R TCR car, built by J.A.S. Motorsport in Italy, is a proven race winner and we demonstrated last year that it’s consistently running at the front of the field. Wall Racing knows how to go about its business and I feel like I’m in the best physical shape of my career.
“The TCR Australia grid is full of talented drivers with a mixture of youth and experience, and combined with the great teams involved, it’s certainly going to be a tough battle to win the championship. But after a year on the sidelines, we just can’t wait to get into it.”