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Honda brings in new car to replace the Civic Type-R amid a lack of results

Honda will be contesting the 2026 Super GT season with a new GT500 car after revealing the Prelude-GT on Tuesday.

Based on the Prelude sports coupe that was launched at the start of the month, it will replace the Civic Type R-GT that has been in service since the start of the 2024 season.

Honda is expected to be the only one of the three GT500 manufacturers to introduce a new base model in 2026, when the current aero freeze will be lifted.

While Super GT manufacturers tend to run a single model for long periods, the Civic Type R will be phased out after just two years in service in favour of the new Prelude.

Honda had introduced a GT500 car based on its popular Civic Type R road car in 2024 as a replacement for the long-running NSX-GT.

However, its radical four-door design posed significant limitations, prompting the Sakura-based marque to switch to a model with which it could achieve "higher goals".

The Civic Type R, while being a marketing powerhouse for Honda, has achieved just one race win in Super GT so far, courtesy of ARTA duo Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita in 2024.

This year, with two races remaining, Honda has yet to finish higher than second amid a dominant run for the Toyota Supra.

Honda Prelude GT (prototype)

“We believe the current Civic Type R-GT can be further improved for next year. However, within the current regulations where all teams compete at an extremely high level, we see potential to achieve a higher level than the Civic Type R-GT by applying the knowledge gained over these past two years to the development of a Prelude-based Super GT machine,” said HRC’s Super GT project leader Masahiro Saeki.

“Furthermore, 2026 is the year when aerodynamic development becomes possible under the regulations. Missing this opportunity would mean waiting several more years for the development freeze to be lifted, which is why we decided to change the base vehicle at this time.

“The return of the coupe-bodied Prelude after so many years presents us with a new challenge and an opportunity. We also aim to deliver results in Super GT so that Honda can continue introducing such production cars in the future. Please look forward to our future performances.

“We also hope Civic Type R fans will continue supporting our efforts in Super Taikyu and the TCR series held around the world.”

Honda will shake down the new Prelude-GT at Sugo on Wednesday, with further testing planned over the winter.

The car will make its race debut in the 2026 Super GT season opener at Okayama on 11-12 April, where it will go up against the Toyota Supra and the Nissan Z.