In addition to having the considerable talents of Thommo behind the wheel (and who was the only driver to be able to challenge Priaulx for the title in the final race of last season again??) the Honda is a very good base vehicle, on which to base a touring car...
it's longer and wider in the wheelbase than say Chevrolet's Lacetti and when you look at the base model from which the cars are developed, the Accord's potential looks a touch easier to unlock...
Lacetti 4-dr
1796cc
89/121 kW/PS
169 Nm
0-62 9.8s
Accord 4-dr 2.0i VTEC
1998cc
153 PS
Civic Type-R
198 PS
0-62 6.6s
Assuming the Euro R's engine to be similar to Civic Type R (Honda's UK website doesn't acknowledge it's existence, so I am assuming here) Honda has roughly a 60-hp advantage over the Lacetti to start with, in road trim...
Certainly, given that Thommo raced in Brazil last year with a car that was totally unsuited to his style, look what happened to the Alfa when he got it to Valencia and persuaded the team to make changes that he thought would be benificial...
last year the team had just 3 test days... they're missing Brazil to learn more about their new toy, so that the old Honda will be WELL sorted when it gets to Spain...
and let's not forget how well Fabrizio Giovanardi went in a one-off outing for JAS... and that in Mexico 2 years ago, the car started on the outside of the front row for race 1 - in the hands of rookie Ryan Sharp - and went on to finish third...
If it's only THAT good, Thommo's gamble to stay with n-technology will be well rewarded
and that can only be good news for the series
