Some tea sir? UK DC2-R

February 24th, 2008 Comments (6)

Photography and editorial by Jeff Robjent

Many years ago during my school days, a group of friends and I used to play football on the fields during our lunch breaks, although my attention would be fully focused on scoring as many goals as possible I recall that most days I’d catch a glimpse of a white, sporty looking car leaving the car park. It seems it wasn’t just me, all of us would stop and stare, one friends comment summed it up, ‘wow, I want a car like that when I grow up! he’d say in awe.

At the time we were young and knew nothing of this mysterious white car or where it came from, all we knew was it was a pleasure to look at.

Fast forward a few years and I’m on my daily commute to work, I pass a similar looking white car, I have to take a double take (maybe not the best of idea’s whilst driving), it’s definitely the same car, only with a few more additions this time. Despite being five years older now, it still has that same ‘wow’ effect on me.

Of course by now my interest in cars has grown and I can identify it, a Championship white ‘99 Integra Type-R, driven By Andrew Varma of Cheddar. Andy’s a true enthusiast – as you’ll find out if you talk with him for more then five minutes. This car is his passion and has been for the last six years.

Andy’s an active member on the itr-dc2.com website, quite literally the largest global Integra forum in existence, whilst closer to home he co founded ‘Tatsu’, a club for people from Bristol and its surrounding areas who share the same interest in Japanese cars. As well as having an online forum, the club run many events, be it regular meets or visiting various shows around the country.

Andy’s DC2 started off relatively standard (the state in which I used to see it at school) however over the past few years it’s had many additions, both in terms of appearance and performance.

Its one of the only (if not the only) Integra’s in the UK to have the optional US rear spats kit and side skirts fitted, this alone makes it stand out and Andy tell’s me he has numerous other owners asking where they can purchase a set.

Andy’s also fitted a set of 15″ Rota Grids, painted in Championship white as well as a carbon bonnet, a rare site on a Teg this side of the pond, plans are in the pipeline to have it sprayed – however I’m sure you’ll agree it pulls it off well in its current state.

Whilst these are the things you notice first, the car also has many small tweaks that the average eye may skip over upon viewing for the first time, the Gandor mirrors, smoothed aerial and bootlock for example. As with most enthusiast owned cars these days, it’s the attention to small details like this that really make the car stand out. To finish the exterior the car’s had a few coats of House of Kolor paint, the pictures speak for themselves.

Make no mistake, whilst looking pretty; this car was built to be driven. While it has no four page list of mechanical tweaks it has a small but thought out package based solely on function and performance.
An AEM intake and full DC sports exhaust system (including heat wrapped manifold) take care of the breathing, whilst an ACT six spring clutch and 4.5 kg flywheel makes sure all of the power is transferred to the ground. This is complimented by an improved grounding system, topped off by the Hondata S300 ecu which makes the whole package work in unison.

Koni dampers and Eibach pro kit springs take care of the suspension side of things. As most will know the Integra handles exceptionally well in standard trim and these tweaks only further this, as well as offering a subtle but effective 25mm drop in right height. This car see’s its fair share of hard driving, it’s had a few outings at circuits across the Uk and gets a regular thrashing on some of the mendips B roads.

To prove this point, he offers to take me for a quick ride, I jump into the passenger seat before he’s even opened his door.

Once the car’s up to operating temperature Andy floors it, we pass 5300 rpm, vtec engages smoothly and the revs start to shoot up. The sound is pure bliss, the previous deep rumble has turned into a screaming mechanical buzz as the intake and exhaust notes reverberate around the cabin, all the way to near 9000rpm. Whilst I’ve been in faster things in a straight line (big power skylines etc) it doesn’t fail to put a smile on my face…and we haven’t even reached the bends yet.

As we accelerate up onto the mendips I start to think ‘ok, surely he’s going to slow down”, yet he shows no sign of letting off. We glide through the bends and the car feels absolutely planted to the road, EVO magazine didn’t rate it the best handling fwd car of its era for nothing.

The Koni & Eibach combo is firm, but not overly stiff and the Recaro seat holds me securely as we rocket along some of the best B roads in the country. Eventually we come back and I get out the car with a tremendous smile on my face, I’ve waited 5 years for that ride and it surpassed my expectations.

Andy’s taken Hondas already prolific Type-R and added his own touches to make it unique. Few people take it upon themselves to change the exterior of the DC2 this side of the pond and the purists will say this is the way it should be, however Andy’s managed to make his car look unique whilst retaining the key features that make the ITR what it is. With improved plans for the future you can be guaranteed this isn’t the last you’ll see of it.

Make: Honda
Model: Integra
Edition: Type R UK
Year: 1999

-EXTERIOR
Full respray in Championship white, flow coated with HOK paints
Carbon fibre bonnet
Gandor Mirrors
Smoothed aerial, rear wiper and bootlock.
S2000 clear side repeaters
Black mesh front grille
JDM optional side skirts and spats

-INTERIOR
Autometer AFR gauge / Autometer gauge pod
Standard Momo steering wheel
Richbrook gearknob / jdm red stiched gaitor
JDM carbon effect window switches

-ENGINE
B18C6
AEM cool air intake
Hondata S300
DC Sports SS 4-2-1 Manifold and exhaust system
Decat Pipe
Nology ignition leads
Engine Torque Damper
Hondata intake gasket (heat shield)
Poly Motor Mounts inserts
Oil catch can
Violence Grounding System
ACT 4.5kg fly wheel
ACT 6 spring clutch
Short shift gearstick

-HANDLING
Koni adjustable top mount shocks
Eibach -20mm springs
Skunk 2 camber adjusters front and rear
Rear upper and lower strut braces
15″ Rota grids painted champ white
Lightweight forged lugnuts
Cusco BMC stopper
EBC blank discs / Ferrodo rear pads / Hawk Ceramic fronts

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