A SWINDON-made Honda Civic has raced round a former Formula One track in Portugal to set a new lap record.

Driven by professional Portuguese race car driver Tiago Da Costa Monteiro, the Honda civic Type R, made at the Honda plant in South Marston, completed the Estorial circuit in 2min 0.184 second.

It sets a new record round the 2.59 mile track, which was the home of Formula One Portugues Grand Prix from 1984 – 1996, for standard production car with road tyres and is the fourth lap record for the Honda Civic Type R.

Speaking about the benchmark time, Tiago Monterio said: “We came here with a goal to beat the existing lap record set by the previous car but you can never take anything for granted – I mean it’s a lap record so it’s no easy feat.

“You have to have supreme confidence in the car to attack around Estoril, and the new Type R is just so powerful, smooth and confidence-inspiring. We beat the lap record, smashed the record actually.

“The new Type R is a big evolution. I mean we’re talking about a totally different car in terms of design, aero, suspension, geometries, engine, but more than anything the feeling of driving the car.”

The Honda Civic model also claimed record lap times at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire and home of the Belgium Formula One Spa-francorchamps.