DOUG 'Hollywood' Gore may be missing from the Dover Raceway's line-up this meet, but this has not quelled ATL Automotive Ltd's commitment to motorsport, as the Honda division unveiled Natasha Chang's latest sponsored race car at its Hagley Park Road office yesterday evening.

"It's a completely different car," the female racer told Auto.

After a two-year hiatus, Chang made her return to circuit racing in May. During her time off, she enlisted the technical expertise of top Honda tuner and racecar builder Rajendra Jadusingh.

With the resources from the ATL Automotive's Honda dealership, he transformed the car.

The race car now complies with the Modified Production class one rules, retaining its 1600cc motor. Jadusingh opted to focus on chassis dynamics by lightening the car, and adding grip via spoilers and splitters. The big gain has been in the tyre department.

"The Civic now has wider slicks. It still uses the 15-inch rims, but now we use 275mm-wide slicks, up from the 225mm," said Chang. "I suspect it will handle quite differently, like a go-kart."

"I did lap times in the 1:31-second range, and we realised that we needed to push the envelope. Jadusingh, as chief engineer working with the ATL mechanics, has allowed the car you see before you."

Chang hopes to shear two seconds off her previous best and starts full testing at the track in preparation for Sunday's meet.