--- title: "2023 Honda Civic Type R’s Nurburgring Record Used a Modified ‘Lighter Version’" description: "The 2023 Honda Civic Type R's record-breaking Nürburgring lap was set using a lightened car on non-standard tires." date: "2023-04-21" modified: "2023-04-21" authors: - name: "James Gilboy" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023-honda-civic-type-rs-nurburgring-record-used-a-modified-car-report" categories: - "Honda News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Civic" - "compact" - "honda" --- # 2023 Honda Civic Type R’s Nurburgring Record Used a Modified ‘Lighter Version’ ![2023 Honda Civic Type R at Nurburgring]() *\Honda\* Earlier this week, Honda declared it had [retaken the front-wheel-drive lap record at the Nürburgring]() with the [2023 Honda Civic Type R](). But the lap's worthiness is now being called into question, as a report from *[Carscoops]()* alleges the Type R had been altered in way that won't be available from the factory. The lap in question was completed in 7:44.881, just barely beating out the 7:45.389 record held by the [Renault Megane RS Trophy-R](). (While technically slower than the previous model's record of 7:43.8, that was reportedly set on a different, slightly shorter course configuration.) But suspicions have arisen that [Honda]() may have derived those decisive tenths of a second from changes to the car it used, which was a special "S Grade" model. ![]() *2023 Honda Civic Type R "S Grade" setting the FWD lap record at the Nürburgring. *Honda** The Civic Type R S Grade is reportedly a stripper model, ditching its air conditioning, tonneau cover, parking sensors, cargo net hooks, auto-dimming rearview mirror, visor lights, and navigation hardware. It also swaps power mirrors for manual, unheated units, culminating in a modest, but unknown weight reduction. The trim is reportedly available only in left-hand-drive European markets, not in the U.S. or right-hand-drive markets. According to the automaker's press release in Europe: "T*he lap time was set using a Type R that is a lighter version of the latest model. This model will be available to order in European LHD markets only, and will be referred to as a Type R S grade.* *The lap time was set using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect tyres that will be available to order through Michelin directly.*" That's not all that's different, either. The European model is rated at 325 horsepower to the U.S. market's 315, and the record-setting car used tires that aren't available from the factory. It reportedly rode on [Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect](), whereas the Type R's stock tire is the more street-oriented [Pilot Sport 4S](). These tires are reportedly available from Honda dealers and Michelin itself, but aren't factory equipment. It's also unclear whether the S Grade will be sold in the U.S.—Honda declined to comment on the matter, or how much weight the trim saves. Lap records are enough of a boondoggle as-is. Everything from weather conditions to tire compounds, resurfacing, tweaks to track layouts, to even what the driver ate for breakfast can make the difference between a record lap and a forgettable one. Yet while they're not *really* meaningful, we still don't like being taken for fools—or to see the theater that is the performance car arms race disrespected. *Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com* ## Author James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids." ### Author social links [Instagram]()