Anna Inotsume keeps on dominating TCR Japan’s field
Anna Inotsume’s domination on the 2023 TCR Japan season continued, as the she added another couple of race wins at Okayama, making four out of four so far. At the wheel of her DOME Racing-run Honda Civic Type R, Inotsume moved into the lead in the early stages of both races and then proceeded to build comfortable gaps over her pursuers. Thus, she has extended her lead in both the Saturday and Sunday series over the reigning champion ‘Hirobon’.
Race 1 – The Honda cars of pole-sitter Inotsume and ‘Mototino’ shared the front row; ‘Mototino’ made a better start and led, but Inotsume overtook him during the first lap. They were joined by Junichi Umemoto in a three-way all-Honda battle, with the Audi of Masanobu Kato and the CUPRA of ‘Hirobon’ immediately behind. Inotsume pulled away, but the safety car was deployed in lap 5 after ‘Mototino’ went off onto the gravel. When racing resumed, in lap 8, Umemoto was struggling to defend P2 from Kato and ‘Hirobon’. Up front, Inotsume, undisturbed, claimed her third consecutive win with a margin of 5.6 seconds over Umemoto who retained the second place ahead of Kato, with ‘Hirobon’ finishing fourth after losing contact.
Race 2 – ‘Hirobon’ sat on pole, but at the start Kato from P3 and Inotsume from P2 were faster and jumped ahead. Three pairs were formed, with Inotsume chasing the leader Kato, ‘Hirobon’ defending P3 from ‘Mototino’ and Suzuki and Umemoto fighting for P5. Inotsume put huge pressure on Kato and eventually muscled her way into the lead during lap 4. The lady driver began to build a gap, while ‘Mototino’ overtook ‘Hirobon’ for third place in lap 5 and Umemoto passed Suzuki for P5. Inotsume was in control of the race and scored another victory, beating Kato by 7.6 seconds, with ‘Mototino’ completing the podium only inches ahead of Umemoto who had passed ‘Hirobon’ for P4.
The championship will resume, on August 19/20, at Twin Ring Motegi.
Okayama – Race 1
1. Anna Inotsume (DOME Racing, Honda Civic Type R Fk7), 13 laps
2. Junichi Umemoto (J’S Racing, Honda Civic Type R Fk7), 5.601
3. Masanobu Kato (Audi Team Mars, Audi RS 3 LMS), 6.521
Okayama – Race 2
1. Anna Inotsume (DOME Racing, Honda Civic Type R Fk7), 16 laps
2. Masanobu Kato (Audi Team Mars, Audi RS 3 LMS), 7.662
3. ‘Mototino’ (55 Moto Racing, Honda Civic Type R Fk7), 19.968
Championship points – Saturday Series
1. A. Inotsume, 60 pts; 2. ‘Hirobon’, 37; 3. M. Kato, 33
Championship points – Sunday Series
1. A. Inotsume, 58 pts; 2. ‘Hirobon’, 38; 3. M. Kato, 35
Picture: TCR Japan
