Jenson Button Sets FWD Lap Record at The Hungaroring in Honda Civic Type R

Brawn GP - the team that brought him the drivers’ title in 2009, turned into Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in 2010 - was known as Honda Racing F1 from 2006 to 2008. And even after the three-year spell with McLaren, the Japanese automaker and former McLaren driver are tied at the hip by an extremely lucrative deal for both parties.

As part of the deal, Button took up the challenge to drive the Civic Type R around the Hungaroring. And as you can tell from the headline, he drove the wheels off the hot hatchback, setting yet another lap record for the pocket rocket from Japan. Or Great Britain because that’s where the car is made despite the Japanese origins and Gundam-esque exterior design.

On the 2.7-mile long circuit near the Hungarian capital of Budapest, the Civic Type R crossed the finish line in 2:10.19. The record for fastest lap around the Hungaroring for a front-wheel-drive car is furthered by records at Estoril in Portugal, Magny Cours in France, Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, and Silverstone in the United Kingdom.

But the Hungaroring is that more special when paired with Jenson Button. Back in 2006, the Briton won his first Grand Prix here for Honda, with Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren-Mercedes) and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) finishing on second and third.

Speaking about the lap, the Somerset-born drive said that he “came here to the Hungaroring, where I won my first F1 race in 2006 with Honda, to set a new front-wheel drive production lap record in the new Type R, and I’m very happy that we did it!”

If you’re planning on getting the Civic Type R, the cheapest version available in the United Kingdom costs £31,525. Over in the United States, the 2018 model year is $600 more expensive, now retailing at $35,595 including destination charge.