Yu Kanamaru fights back to take Race 2 at Autopolis
Yu Kanamaru with the Honda Civic of Team Goh, took victory in Race 2 of the TCR Japan season-opener at Autopolis, beating yesterday’s winner Matthew Howson (KCMG Honda) and Takeshi Matsumoto (Wakayama Volkswagen Golf GTI) after an entertaining race on a damp track. Howson leads the overall standings after this inaugural event of the series.
The starts saw poleman Takuro Shinohara, driving a Hitotsuyama Motorsport Audi RS 3 LMS, struggling to keep the advantage from Kanamaru, who made a great start from row 2, Howson, Yukinori Taniguchi (KCMG Honda), Resshu Shioya (G/Motion Honda), Takeshi Matsumoto (Wakayama Volkswagen) and Shogo Mitsuyama (Green Brave Volkswagen). The leader was soon in troubles, as his Audi slowed down and stopped in the pits.
Kanamuru inherited the lead ahead of Howson and Matsumoto, who had moved up to third with a couple of great overtaking manoeuvres. ‘Hirobon’ was climbing positions too, settling in P6 behind Shioya and Mitsuyama by lap 5. ‘Kenji’ made a slight mistake in lap 6 but rejoined, while Shuji Maejima with the Go&Fun Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo passed Jun Sato (Racingline Performance Volkswagen) for 11th.
Kanamaru built some breathing space in the lead, while there was a big fight behind him with Matsumoto attacking Howson and Mitsuyama. Shioya and ‘Hirobon’ were also fighting for fifth in a lively battle; they made contact in lap 10, but positions did not change, with the two finishing 5th and 6th and first and second in the Gentlemen Class.
The next round of TCR Japan is scheduled at Sugo on 22/23 June.
Race 2
1. Yu Kanamaru (Team Goh, Honda Civic FK8), 12 laps
2. Matthew Howson (KCMG, Honda Civic FK8), 2.853
3. Takeshi Matsumoto (Team Wakayama, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 3.199
4. Shogo Mitsuyama (Green Brave, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 3.521
5. Resshu Shioya (G/Motion, Honda Civic FK8), 3.930
