TCR World and life

For its penultimate event of the season TCR Japan returned to Motegi Twin Ring where ‘Hirobon’ secured the title of the Saturday Series and then won the Sunday race (above and bottom right), moving a step closer to be crowned champion in that series as well. In the first race, Mineki Okura converted pole position into his maiden victory at the wheel of the Stile Corse Alfa Romeo Giulietta (centre right). Okura made a great start and led from Resshu Shioya who has rejoined the series after completing cancer therapy. Shioya then was passed by Masanobu Kato and ‘Hirobon’ who finished on the podium behind Okura; results that earned ‘Hirobon’ the Saturday Series title. The Sunday race started behind the safety car, under pouring rain. Okura led from pole once again, but during the opening lap he was passed by both Kato and ‘Hirobon’ who pulled away. Soon afterwards, Okura dropped another place behind Shioya. Kato built a 10-second margin over ‘Hirobon’, but then on lap 9 he spun and ‘Hirobon’ seized the opportunity to take the lead. Kato didn’t give up and put the pressure on ‘Hirobon’ trying to find a gap to pass, but at the beginning of the last lap he made another mistake and lost contact. ‘Hirobon’ won with a 1.5 second margin from Kato, with Shioya in third place. ‘Hirobon’ now leads the standings by 18 points over Kato, with 30 points on offer in the last event that will be held at Suzuka on October 30/31. 27 Round 9 – Saturday 16 October, Twin Ring Motegi 1. M. Okura (M-Prototyping Stile Corse, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce); 2. M. Kato (Team Mars, Audi RS 3 LMS); 3. ‘Hirobon’ (Birth Racing Project, CUPRA) Round 10 – Sunday 17 October, Twin Ring Motegi 1. ‘Hirobon’ (Birth Racing Project, CUPRA); 2. M. Kato (Team Mars, Audi RS 3 LMS); 3. R. Shioya (Team G/Motion, Honda Civic Type R FK8) JAPAN IN THE FIRST RACE ATMOTEGI, MINEKI OKURA CLAIMS HIS MAIDENWIN IN THE JAPANESE SERIES ‘Hirobon’ istheSaturdaychampion