Honda is prepping a ‘Time Attack’ Civic Type R…

One hatch to rule them all. That’s clearly Honda’s philosophy with its latest, FK8 Civic Type R, because it has announced that a ‘Time Attack’ hot hatch will aim to set new records at some really fast circuits.

And it will enlist some really fast drivers to do it. Chief among them, one Jenson Button: 2009 Formula One world champion, and current NSX Super GT racer. He’s quite handy.

Mr Button will be joined by WTCR racers Tiago Monteiro and Esteban Guerrieri, and NSX Super GT driver Bertrand Baguette.

The aim is to strap said drivers into said Time Attack Honda Civic Type R, and blaze a time around Silverstone, Spa, and Estoril. More circuits will be announced in due course.

The new Type R’s already handy around one particular circuit. You know, That Place. In 2017, a development Type R managed to lap the Nürburgring in 7m 43.8s, making it the fastest front-wheel-drive production car to have done so. Watch it here.

The thing kicks out 316bhp. It won TG mag’s Car of the Year 2017. It’ll go from 0-62mph in 5.7s. It has spawned a truly sinister British Touring Car sibling. And now it looks set to claim more circuit scalps.

Can the armies of rival hot hatch manufacturers marshal their forces to repel the Type R’s onslaught? Will we ever stop using Lord of the Rings analogies when it comes to these things? Is anyone even listening?

We'll see the Time Attack Honda Civic Type R at next week's Geneva Motor Show.