Photo: WTCC Media

Honda decision on continuation in WTCC due soon

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Honda’s decision on whether or not they will continue to compete in the WTCC from next season onwards is due soon they say, but the Japanese marque also report the signs are good following a strong result in Japan, when they scored a 1-2-3 result in Race 1 with full weight onboard.

Honda are yet to commit to the championship next season, renewing their deal on a year-by-year basis, but are currently enjoying their most competitive season to-date with four race wins picked up by their three cars, with all of their drivers in close contention for the runner-up spot in the standings behind José María López.

“Next season is not yet decided, but it is looking good especially after this 1-2-3 in Japan,” said Honda Europe motorsport manager William de Braekeleer to TouringCarTimes. “I think the lights might become even more green soon. There is no date fixed for when we will be announcing our intentions for next year, but I’m quite positive.”

With Citroën withdrawing from the championship at the end of this season, with the French marque only represented by privateer teams next year, the manufacturers which will remain on the grid are the also much improved Lada Sport team and new-for-2016 Volvo factory team Polestar Cyan Racing, which were much closer to the leaders last weekend.

“(Volvo’s improvement I view) with great pleasure; as you can see in the rest of the championship it’s very exciting with Lada close as well,” added de Braekeleer. “If Volvo can join the pack at the top, and as Citroën is leaving, it will make for an exciting season. We like exciting races. It’s never good in a championship that one brand is leading by a big margin, as it makes the championship not interesting.”

Honda and their drivers were happy and also surprised at the pace of the Civic WTCC at home last weekend, with Norbert Michelisz leading a 1-2-3 with Rob Huff picking up his fifth podium result of the season.

“We thought we would really struggle, especially after free practice as normally after free practice we’re at the top and in qualifying we drop back a little bit, but this weekend it was the other way around,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes. “The boys did an amazing job, the team did an amazing job, and to get a 1-2-3 here was really special.

“Though next year is still undecided, performances like this help push us in the right direction.”