London: Honda has unveiled the new racing engine HR412E to power its Civic WTCC race car in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
Developed at Honda's R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, the HR412E is a completely bespoke 1.6 litre 4 cylinder direct injection turbo-charged petrol engine, fully conforming to FIA regulations for the WTCC.
The engine has been delivered to the Honda Racing Team JAS workshop in Milan, Italy, where the Civic WTCC is being developed, and successfully passed all initial tests.
The news follows the recent naming of Honda's works team drivers in the the FIA World Touring Car Championship - Italian Gabriele Tarquini and Portuguese Tiago Monteiro.
Honda will enter the WTCC as early as this season with one car. Behind the wheel of the Civic WTCC will be ex-Formula One driver Tiago Monteiro, who will compete in three races, starting at Suzuka in October 2012.