IRC: JAS team with Mugen.

JAS Motorsport has announced that its new Honda Civic Type R rally car, which will be unveiled at the Sanremo Rally this weekend, will benefit from Mugen engine power.

Speaking ahead of the official launch of the R3 spec car, JAS Motorsport team principal Alessandro Mariani said that the tie up with Mugen was a major boost.

"The heritage that Mugen brings speaks for itself, so we are absolutely delighted to have such a prestigious and successful firm as our engine partner, that shares with us a common passion and commitment to Honda," he noted.

"With the support of Mugen, we aim to complete the car's development in order to offer Honda rally customers a competitive and reliable package."

Hiro Toyoda, vice president of Mugen Euro, meanwhile has greeted the announcement of the collaboration with JAS Motorsport with enthusiasm.

"The formation of Mugen Euro, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the Japanese parent company, was first announced back in January 2007 at the Autosport International show, with the clear objective of responding to the increasing demand in the European racing and rallying market for fully competitive competition-tuned Honda products, backed up by first class technical support," he added.

"Since that announcement we have been able to establish an excellent engine test facility in Northampton which is now fully operational.

"This technical partnership with famous Italian company JAS Motorsport is the first of a number of major steps forward that we have planned. Combining the excellent chassis know-how and experience of JAS in rallying and Touring Car racing with Mugen's acknowledged engine technology is a natural progression for both companies, each having a long standing successful relationship with Honda Motor Company and its excellent automobiles.

"Together we aim to offer competitors a winning package in the FIA's very promising new R3 rally class, and develop cars and engines for others categories also. We have in common the passion and the dedication to achieve this."

The R3 spec car will be available through JAS Motorsport for customers from the start of November.

It is due to be launched at the Samremo Rally - round seven of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, this Thursday. The following weekend it will get its WRC debut in Spain, when it is driven by Dani Sola.