Honda’s newly-expanded rally team has jetted out of Australia for Italy to test the new Group G2 Honda Jazz rally machines.

Lead driver Eli Evans has been joined by new team recruit Mark Pedder and co-driver Glen Weston for the testing program.

The has team gathered in Milan at renowned rally and motor sport preparation specialists JAS where the two Honda Jazz group G2 machines have been built ahead of a one day shakedown test and a further three days of tests in the south of Italy.

Glen Weston says the prospect of testing the new cars is an exciting step for the expanded team and will allow the team to get a lot of things set for the upcoming Bosch ARC season.

“We have an initial one day test as a shakedown just near the JAS factory in Milan before the car goes back to the workshop to sort any minor problems,” said Weston.

“Following that the car will be shipped to a gravel stage in southern Italy where we will be joined by British champion Guy Wilks for a full three day test before the cars gets shipped to Australia in time for Rally Calder.

“Guy Wilks was the 2007 and 2008 British Rally Champion and of course campaigned the Honda Civic Type R at Rally Canberra and at Coffs Harbour in 2009 and will be invaluable in helping to get the car sorted as quickly as possible.

“I will be co-driving throughout the tests for Guy, Eli and Mark Pedder which will be great and will allow me to totally understand the car and how it works.”

Honda Australia’s two new Jazz rally cars have been designed to meet the new G2 specifications and will combine the very best in Australian and European engineering using specifications found in many World Rally Championship cars.

The Jazz will compete against another G2-spec car – the Mazda 2 – which will be drive by Eli’s older brother and four-time ARC champion Simon Evans. CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s breaking story.

The new G2 rally category will debut at Rally Calder presented by East Coast Bullbars on March 1-4.