A Super GT Fan's FD2 Honda Civic Type R - Speedhunters (2024)

Full Circle

It may have taken a year anda bit,but I’m finally making good on a promise made back in a time when traveling to other countries was taken for granted and Japan hosted hundreds of thousands of automotive enthusiasts for Tokyo Auto Salon.

It was during the ‘Meet Me Underground’gatheringin Shibuya during the week of TAS 2020 thatImade apledge tofeature a special FD2 Civic Type R. After hashing out a few possible dates that the Honda’s owner, Yohei, and I could meet up to shoot thecar, lifetook an unexpected turn. I’m not just talking about the global pandemic either.

After enjoying a wetSuper GTrace at Fuji Speedway, Yohei misjudged the depth of a potholeon his drive home and damaged the front end of his FD2. It took over six months to repair, during which time Covid came along and our meet-up was put on hold.

But as the saying goes –good things come to those who wait.

The meetin Shibuya might have been the first time Yohei and I met face to face, but a little over a year before that I had received a message on Instagram late one morning.It read: “I saw you running the local roads in my hometown last night. The next time you’re in the area please message me and let’s run together!”

At first I thought the personwas mistaken, as I’d been in a pretty remote area deep in the mountains very late at night (read: early morning). Still, I replied back and ever since then Yohei and I have kept in contact about night meetsand otherlocal gatherings in his area.

I’d beenkeen to feature hisFD2 Civic Type R for a while, but Yohei was in the middle ofitsfinal evolution asked me to waituntil it was ready. Recently, we got to shoot.

As Yohei hasowned hisHonda for a little over seven years now, I initially assumedhe was a die-hard Honda fan. Truth be told, he found himselfthe Civic’s owner by chance. “I was looking to buy another R33 Skyline GT-R after I crashed mine in the mountains. I was in a bit of a foul mood and I spotted this purple FD2 Type R for sale. The color spoke to meso I decided to buyit instead,” he told me.

Note: In Japan, the color purple can representdisappointmentor depressed feelings, whichmight be why the color spoke to Yohei’s frustrations.

Aggression & Style

What you see here now is three quarters of a decade’s worth of Yohei’sevolving vision, determination and patience. I think you’ll agree that it’s been worth the effort.

A good starting point to break down the transformation would be the M&M Honda Hyper wide-body kit, which adds an extra 70mm of girth bringing the total width to around 1,940mm (for reference, a brand new FK8 Civic Type R is quoted at 1,880mm wide). But I have to begin with the wheels.

As we all know, wheels can make or break a vehicle’svisual impact, but I don’t think Yohei could do any better than the set his Civic wears. You’re looking at RAYS Volk Racing center-lockaluminummotorsport wheels, aspreviouslyrun on a GT300 Prius.

As you’d expect from Super GT wheels, they’re aggressively sized at 18×12-inch with a +10 offset all round.Given how center-lock wheels work, Yohei had to make his own tool to both remove and torque his wheels up to spec.

Big wheels call for big tires, in this case Hankook Z221 Ventus TD semi-slicks – 295-section in the front and 265 in the rear. The wide-body fenders contain them nicely, although Yohei had to create stoppers to the ensure the fronts don’tfoul against the suspension.

Yohei hasn’t skimped on the brakes either, fitting a sizeable 6-pot AP Racing Kai package up front.

Yohei’s Super GT parts don’t stop at the RAYS wheels; the under panel comes from a Corolla and the side skirts are from anotherGT300 Prius. The latter pair needed a bit of massaging to fit theFD2, and that involved trimming some very expensive dry carbon.

I’ve covered the wide-body, butM&M Hondacomponents also extend to thecarbon fiber hood, rear diffuser, 1,500mm carbon fiberGT wing and trunk lid.

Inside the trunk is a surprise that solves a very unique problem. Yohei wanted to fit an exhaust systemcustom-made bya friend who runs a small shop called Shimura Kougyo. The routing, however, was going to pose a major obstacle and under normal circ*mstances wouldn’t fit under the Honda unlessit was extensively modified. Instead, Yohei decided that the trunk wasn’t really all that necessary for his needs, so he cut most of it out to accomodate the exhaust.

The Type R-spec K20A engine itself is internally stock, and otherwise quiteconservatively tuned given the car’s hardcore exterior. But seeing asthough Yohei spends most of his time in the car on mountain passes, he doesn’t need huge power. A GruppeM air filter, Toda Racing throttle body and Koyorad aluminum radiatorare the most notable upgrades alongsidea FEEL’S (aka Honda Twincam) ECU and the aforementioned exhaust system.

Likewise, Yohei hasn’t gone off the deep end when it comes to the interior.Many of creature comforts remain, including the air conditioning and radio,but some of the plastic trim, the headliner and back seat have been stripped, and an M&M Honda trunk gusset plate and Bride seats have been added. The short shifter is an adapted Nismo item from Yohei’s old Skyline.

Being 187cm tall (6’1”), Yohei falls well beyond the 95th percentile in Japan, so for optimal driving position– and to make getting in an out not agymnastic routine – he runs both a Works Bell quick-release and hub spacer.

It may not have been the car he was originally looking for all those years ago, butYohei’sFD2 Honda Civic Type R has became the exact car he needed. Now, how does one go about getting their hands on some RAYSVolk Racing magnesiumcenter-lock wheels…

Ron Celestine
Instagram:celestinephotography

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