Hot Hondas blitz speed records

By DAVID LINKLATER


A Diesel-powered Honda Accord Euro i-CTDi has smashed 19 world speed records at the Papenburg high-speed oval test track in Germany.

Among the records set in the 2000-2500cc Production Car Class were 214.1km/h for a one-mile flying start, 135.58km/h for a one-mile standing start and an average speed of 209.8km/h over the 24-hour endurance period.

Two production cars, randomly selected by FIA officials, were used for the speed records.

The FIA is motorsport's ruling body.

Both were showroom-standard, apart from the fitting of roll cages, racing harnesses and radio equipment for track-to-pits communication.

The records were set at Papenburg in northwest Germany on May 1 and 2, and are yet to be ratified by the FIA.

British racing driver Robin Liddell was part of the team.

Riddell has previously raced at the Le Mans 24-hours, as well as the American Le Mans Series and the BRDC British GT championship.

Following the record runs, the same two cars were driven 674km from Papenburg towards Frankfurt in a fuel-economy run.

The route was a mixture of motorway and non-motorway driving, during which one of the Accords achieved an average figure of 3.07 litres/100km (92mpg).

The Accord i-CTDi is part of Honda's mainstream European model lineup and boasts a high-tech 2.2-litre turbo diesel powerplant designed and built by the Japanese company.