Honda reveals new Prelude GT500 challenger for 2026 Tremendous GT season

Honda might be contesting the 2026 Tremendous GT season with a brand new GT500 automotive after revealing the Prelude-GT on Tuesday.

Based mostly on the Prelude sports activities coupe that was launched at first of the month, it should exchange the Civic Kind R-GT that has been in service because the begin of the 2024 season.

Honda is predicted to be the one one of many three GT500 producers to introduce a brand new base mannequin in 2026, when the present aero freeze might be lifted.

Whereas Tremendous GT producers are likely to run a single mannequin for lengthy durations, the Civic Kind R might be phased out after simply two years in service in favour of the brand new Prelude.

Honda had launched a GT500 automotive primarily based on its common Civic Kind R highway automotive in 2024 as a substitute for the long-running NSX-GT.

Nonetheless, its radical four-door design posed important limitations, prompting the Sakura-based marque to change to a mannequin with which it may obtain “larger targets”.

The Civic Kind R, whereas being a advertising powerhouse for Honda, has achieved only one race win in Tremendous GT up to now, courtesy of ARTA duo Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita in 2024.

This yr, with two races remaining, Honda has but to complete larger than second amid a dominant run for the Toyota Supra.

Honda Prelude GT (prototype)

Photograph by: Motorsport.com Japan

“We consider the present Civic Kind R-GT will be additional improved for subsequent yr. Nonetheless, throughout the present laws the place all groups compete at a particularly excessive degree, we see potential to attain a better degree than the Civic Kind R-GT by making use of the information gained over these previous two years to the event of a Prelude-based Tremendous GT machine,” mentioned HRC’s Tremendous GT challenge chief Masahiro Saeki.

“Moreover, 2026 is the yr when aerodynamic improvement turns into potential beneath the laws. Lacking this chance would imply ready a number of extra years for the event freeze to be lifted, which is why we determined to alter the bottom automobile at the moment.

“The return of the coupe-bodied Prelude after so a few years presents us with a brand new problem and a possibility. We additionally goal to ship ends in Tremendous GT in order that Honda can proceed introducing such manufacturing vehicles sooner or later. Please stay up for our future performances.

“We additionally hope Civic Kind R followers will proceed supporting our efforts in Tremendous Taikyu and the TCR collection held world wide.”

Honda will shake down the brand new Prelude-GT at Sugo on Wednesday, with additional testing deliberate over the winter.

The automotive will make its race debut within the 2026 Tremendous GT season opener at Okayama on 11-12 April, the place it should go up towards the Toyota Supra and the Nissan Z.

Honda Prelude GT (prototype)