Honda signs up Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson as brand ambassador

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Ricky Wilson, frontman of the Kaiser Chiefs and judge on BBC1's The Voice, has become a brand ambassador for Honda Cars UK as it launches the Honda Civic Type-R.

Wilson is set to kick off his role as ambassador by piloting the new Civic Type R up the famous hill climb at Goodwood Festival of Speed on Saturday June 27, the day after Kaiser Chiefs play to 65,000 people in Hyde Park with The Who.

As preparation for his drive at the world’s biggest motorsport garden party, Wilson secured his National B race licence at Knockhill last week, under the guidance of Honda BTCC star driver, Gordon “Flash” Shedden. Honda currently lead the 2015 British Touring Car Championship.

Wilson will take ownership of a blue Civic Type R, complete with the all-new +R mode, which increases the response of chassis and engine for enhanced driving thrills.

After owning a series of old and dodgy cars, he said of the Type R: “For the first time, I feel like I can trust something at high speed. For a car that’s a small road car, it gives you a taste of the race.

“For something you can walk in and buy in a dealership, I think it’s brilliant.”

Leon Brannan, head of car at Honda UK, said: “We are chuffed to bits that Ricky is our ambassador for Type R. It’s a car with great racing pedigree that has a huge fanbase on the roads. I’m sure Ricky will thrive on the adrenalin that 306bhp through the front wheels brings. I’ve promised him it’ll provide the same rush as playing Glastonbury.”