The all-new Honda Civic Type R will have its racing debut this year in the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season. The car is currently undergoing testing, but it will be officially unveiled at the BTCC media day at Donington on March 24.

Designed and built from the ground up in the Team Dynamics workshops in Pershore, Worcestershire, the Honda Civic Type R BTCC is based on the production version which will arrive in UK showrooms in July.

The race version will produce 350hp and 400Nm (295lb-ft) of torque and will have increased down force, less drag and a more effective air flow management compared to last season’s Civic Tourer.

Honda Yuasa Racing worked closely with Honda UK manufacturing in Swindon to design the car, for which the build process began in November last year.

“We cannot wait for the new season to start. Our car for 2015 is going to win races. The shape of the new road going Civic Type R has allowed the team to build on the design and take it forward to be a championship winning car,” said Barry Plowman, technical director at Honda Yuasa Racing.

The team will tackle the 2015 season with an unchanged driver line-up consisting of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal. “This is a car that not just us, but the entire automotive industry has been waiting for. We are as excited as anybody to start running the Civic Type R, which is a massive step forward from last year’s Tourer – from the engine to the handling and aerodynamics,” said Matt Neal.

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