‘Hirobon’ secures TCR Japan’s Sunday Series’ title

Anna Inotsume and Resshu Shioya shared race victories in TCR Japan’s season finale at Suzuka, but it was ‘Hirobon’ who wrapped up a perfect season adding the Sunday Series title to the Saturday Series’ he had secured in the previous event.

The Birth Racing Project driver took up a judicious attitude throughout the weekend; he saved his CUPRA Leon Competición car in Saturday’s race, settling for fourth position, then benefited from the fights in Race 2 and was happy to finish second.

For the second consecutive year ‘Hirobon’ claimed the title in both series.

Race 1 – From the pole, Inotsume swerved to the left to block Masanobu Kato; this opened the door to ‘Mototino’ who passed them both for the lead on the outside of T1. It was a short-lived situation, as ‘Mototino’ was passed by Inotsume at the end of the first lap and then lost two other places to Kato and Shioya at the beginning of lap 2. Inotsume pulled away, then in lap 5, Shioya made a mistake and brushed the tyre wall; his Honda lost pace, dropped from third to the back of the field, pitted for repairs and eventually retired. Inotsume took her second win in the championship, securing the runner-up position in the Saturday series; Kato and ‘Mototino’ completed the podium ahead of ‘Hirobon’. 

Race 2 – Inotsume was on pole again, but just like in Race 1 she made a slow start, Shioya took the opportunity to pass her on the inside of T1 and took the lead. Inotsume began to put the pressure on Shioya who was able to close all the gaps; their battle meant that ‘Mototino’ and Kato joined the leading pair. In lap 6, Inotsume tried an overtaking move, she and Shioya ran abreast and made contact that resulted in Inotsume going wide and dropping down to fourth. There was another clash between ‘Mototino’ and Kato, which gave ‘Hirobon’ the opportunity to move into second. One lap later, ‘Mototino’ skidded and hit Inotsume; this promoted Kenji Suzuki to third. During the final laps, ‘Hirobon’ closed on Shioya who held on to the first place and claimed his first victory of the season; Suzuki finished third and ‘Mototino’ passed Inotsume for P4.  

Suzuka – Race 1

1. Anna Inotsume (Dome Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 12 laps

2. Masanobu Kato (Team Mars, Audi RS 3 LMS), 13.365

3. ‘Mototino’ (55Moto Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 14.246

Suzuka – Race 2

1. Resshu Shioya (Team G/Motion, Honda Civic Type R), 12 laps

2. ‘Hirobon’ (Birth Racing Project, CUPRA Leon Competición), 0.630

3. Kenji Suzuki (Birth Racing Project, Audi RS 3 LMS), 3.626

Championship points – Saturday Series

1. ‘Hirobon’ 141 pts; 2. A. Inotsume 129; 3. M. Kato 105

Championship points – Sunday Series

1. ‘Hirobon’, 147 pts; 2. A. Inotsume 121; 3. M. Kato 104 

Picture: TCR Japan