Kanamaru encores and becomes the new leader

In a rainy and foggy day on the slopes of Mount Fuji, Yu Kanamaru claimed a dominant win in TCR Japan’s Race 2. This was the third for him in the season so far and the second of the weekend. The result propelled the Team Goh Models driver and his Honda Civic on top of the standings, eight points clear of the Volkswagen pair of Takeshi Matsumoto and Shogo Mitsuyama.
The previous leader Matthew Howson dropped to fourth in the points after he retired in the early stages of the race due to a suspected engine issue.
After winning pole position beating Matsumoto by 0.045 seconds, Kanamaru took the lead at the start from Howson and Matsumoto. During the first lap Matsumoto overtook Howson who then dropped progressively and retired.
Behind the two leaders there was a battle for the third position between Mitsuyama, Takuro Shinohara and Shuji Maejima. The latter overtook Shinohara for fourth on lap 4. Further behind, Paul Ip who had started 14^th passed ‘Yoshiki’ for sixth.
On lap 5, Maejima advanced to third, overtaking Mitsuyama, while ‘Hirobon’ was also climbing and passed ‘Yoshiki’, Ip and Shinohara to settle in fifth position.
The final two laps saw Maejima stealing second place from Matsumoto and Ip recovering the sixth by overtaking Shinohara.
The next event of TCR Japan will be at Okayama on 28/29 September.

Race 2
1. Yu Kanamaru (Team Goh Models, Honda Civic FK7), 12 laps
2. Shuji Maejima (Go&Fun Squadra Corse, Alfa Romeo Giulietta), 13.577
3. Takeshi Matsumoto (RT Team Wakayama, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 15.929
4. Shogo Mitsuyama (Green Brave, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 18.288
5. ‘Hirobon’ (Birth Racing Project, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 27.629

Championship points
1. Kanamaru 104 pts; 2. Mitsuyama 96; 3. Matsumoto 96