Oliver Barsby believes further upgrades can make his striking Civic FK2 an outright podium contender in 2025’s Racing Hondas Championship.

The robotics engineer from Leicestershire has confirmed the FK2 will contest a full season in Class A for ‘prototype’ Hondas, with technical support once more from the Ben Sharpe Racing squad.

“We’ve now eked out the engine to 300bhp with new pistons, conrods and a CPL-ported head,” he said.

“When we debuted the car mid-way through 2024 the rest of the season was all about development ahead of 2025.

“The power-to-weight – and how the cars reach their peak power – wasn’t there but now we’re at 300bhp and just under 1300kg which puts us close to the stipulated 240bhp per ton.

“We’ve also added Nitron suspension and had specially uprated driveshafts made.”

Barsby gave the upgraded FK2 – already one of the most advanced cars on the grid when it debuted properly at Donington Park last August – an initial shakedown in the traditional Plum Pudding racing event at Mallory Park on Boxing Day.

“The conditions weren’t ideal but I could still feel the difference.

“The car feels a lot more racy now and a lot less like a track day car would.

“I’d hope we can go after a few podiums in 2025 – I believe the car is capable of that now so it’s down to me!”