WORDS JAMES ROBERTS PORTRAIT STEVEN TEE/LAT
The Honda Civic Type R purrs with each dab of Stoffel Vandoorne’s right foot. He adjusts the seat incrementally to position himself the perfect distance from the steering wheel, arms relaxed, hands at quarter-to-three. The exhaust crackles in the crisp autumnal air and we begin our journey south towards Ise Bay, with the glistening vista of the Pacific Ocean beyond.
Vandoorne has spent the morning visiting the Honda engineers and mechanics at a road-car facility in Suzuka, just a ten-minute drive from the iconic grand prix track. As we leave the plant, all the workers – dressed in identical white boilersuits and green Honda caps – come outside to say goodbye to Stoffel.