2006 CIVIC SI WINS THUNDERHILL!!

[2fast4u2]

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID2010?m...69617&mime=asc


2006 Civic Si Wins Its Class at the 2005 25 Hours of Thunderhill Endurance Race




Torrance, Calif. 12/05/2005 -- Competing in its first sanctioned motorsports event, the all-new 2006 Honda Civic Si placed first and second in class at the grueling "25 Hours of Thunderhill" endurance race at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California. Honda campaigned two identically prepared and nearly stock Civic Si racecars in the event, which ran from 11 a.m. PST December 3 to noon on December 4 and is the self-billed "most severe endurance race on the planet."

Driving the winning car were Kim Wolfkill of Road & Track magazine, and Honda associates Lee Niffenegger, Chad Gilsinger and Matthew Staal. Piloting the second place car were Tony Swan of Car and Driver magazine, and Honda associates Sage Marie, Rich Hays and John Sherk.

This year's race featured 58 cars, and the 2006 Civics placed fourth and sixth overall, completing 645 and 641 laps, respectively, on the 3.02-mile track. Finishing first overall with 665 laps was a Porsche 911 from Team Lost N Space Racing.

"These results certainly validate the performance credentials of the new Civic Si," said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "This effort is also an expression of the passion and racing spirit existing within the many Honda associates involved in designing, and building the Civic."

Engineers from Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in Ohio prepared the cars to National Auto Sport Association (NASA) U.S. Touring Car Championship specifications in an effort to demonstrate the performance capabilities of the Si's new chassis architecture and powertrain. While the basic engine, transmission, and brake system remained stock, the Civic Si's 2.0-liter engine was enhanced by a custom intake from AEM and exhaust components from DC Sports.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup competition tires on lightweight Rays wheels, and custom H&R racing suspension modifications completed the handling package. Enhancing the car's aerodynamics were a carbon-fiber front splitter and adjustable rear spoiler.

"We entered the cars in the E1 class because it features production-based cars, and we wanted to showcase the Civic Si's true capabilities under the most extreme conditions," said Lee Niffenegger, team leader. "We knew the cars would be fast, so it was our goal to finish one and two, and we did just that."

Honda has now established a successful track record at the Thunderhill competition. Last year, a nearly stock Acura TL in race trim (built and driven by engineers from Honda R&D Americas) won its class and finished third overall.

The Civic Si serves as the performance halo for the line of all-new 2006 Civics, offering a 197-horsepower, DOHC 2.0-liter i-VTEC(TM) engine connected to a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited slip differential. The 2006 Civic was recently named Motor Trend Car of the Year, and the Civic Si went on sale at dealerships nationwide December 1.

[acetech808]

Wow
Talk about a power booster, that should get the SI sales moving. Who knows, after that the SI maybe even harder to get?

[Abolition]

nah ace, you don't gotta worry too much about that of all the honda dealers i've come into contact with (trust me...lots), only a handful knew anything about the car itself. I highly doubt a regular salesmen knows much about the SI, let alone the motorsport events it has partcipated in.

I am pretty impressed by the honda's ability. I haven't looked into what class the SI competed in, but 6th overall aint bad for a brand new gen. car. I hear it is only 300 lbs lighter then stock, runs off all stock engine with a custom AEM (i think?) intake and DC sports exhaust (again, don't quote me on this). Rather cool, and without a hiccup either that's why i love honda. You can drive it to the track, beat the hell outta it, then drive home without a problem and repeat weekend after weekend.

haha reminds me of when i was younger, i'd go with my parents to the BMW dealership (or whatever car we had at the time) and i'd talk to the sales people. I'd let them tell me about the car, like an M3. Then, i'd completely unveil all my knowledge, literally giving them a detailed historical and current acomplishments about the car. Then i'd go on to compare it to its competitors and full specs. Of course, that isn't much to brag about as it is just paying attention to detail and memorizing numbers basically, but it sure was fun seeing them be washed over by info from a 13 year old punk. too many times i've been asked to work at the dealerships Hey, when you love cars, you tend to remember stuff about em.


btw, did anyone catch the pic of the honda's rotors glowing nice and red? first time i ever saw that was on an audi R8 at le mans.
---Colin-

[BlackSIguy]

Good find ToFast!

I love watching the 24 hour Lemans type races, and the Corvettes brakes are glowing red hot... its awesome..

[Ep3racer954]

nice find! i wish i could have watched it. im so happy to hear that

[2fast4u2]

Thanks guys. That would have been a fun race to watch!