Team Honda Research is partnering with Honda Performance Development
to showcase the B-Spec Fit developed
specifically for Rally competition at this famous winter Rally event.
“Based on the interest from the inaugural year of B-Spec in
2012, we wanted to come back and run a full season to showcase the true
competitiveness of the B-Spec Rally Fit," stated James Robinson, Honda
Engineer and driver for THR. “Looking
forward to 2013, we hope to have more competition and excitement in the class
with continued involvement from Ford Racing and Toyota”.
The Rally B-Spec Fit made its debut in the 2012 Rally
America B-Spec class, with a limited schedule to prove out the rally kit being
jointly developed by HPD and THR. Of the
three events entered in 2012, the B-Spec Fit was able to get a first-place
finish at 100 Acre, and a second at STPR.
The one DNF occurred at Sno*Drift, and the team was back this year to
tackle the tough ice and snow event.
Even with only three events entered, the B-Spec Fit was able to clinch
second place in the 2012 B-Spec National Championship.
HPD and THR started the challenging first round of the 2013
Rally-America Rally series in hopes of bettering their finish at last years’
Sno*Drift event. Said Robinson at the
start of the event, “Our primary goal for this event is first to finish, and
then worry about finishing first.” Eight
stages made up the first day of competition, and even with cautious driving
strategy, the B-Spec Fit was able to build up a three-minute, 46-second lead
over the second-place B-Spec Ford Fiesta.
“We’re pleased with the performance of the car today,”
Robinson, said, “and we have had no issues to worry about at service. In fact, we’ve been averaging over 20 miles
per gallon so far!”.
Moving into the second day of competition, which included 12
new stages, the B-Spec Fit continued to set steady stage times over its competition. By Stage 11, the Fit team got word that the
second-place Fiesta was out of the competition.
“After we got word on the Fiesta, we decided to run a safe strategy and
make sure we brought the Fit home for the win,” Robinson said.
Continuing into the night stages on Saturday, the B-Spec Fit
was able to claim victory in the first round of the 2013 National Championship
and gain valuable manufacturers’ points for Honda. “We’re excited to complete this challenging
round and have such a good finish for Honda,” Robinson said at the awards
ceremony in Hamilton, Michigan. “We’re
now starting off the season with some good momentum that we hope to carry
through into 100 Acre next month!”
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