2013 FIA WTCC Race of Japan: Difference between revisions
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Early on in Q2, Michelisz led the RML drivers in the times while Thompson opted not to go out straight away. At the halfway point of the session all the drivers were it the pit lane, Oriola and MacDowall went out before Thompson went out for the first time with just under four minutes left of the session. Oriola looked to be setting a quick lap but didn't improve in the last sector, MacDowall went up to second with Thompson on his first timed lap did not improve from 12th. Muller had a slide at turn one while Tarquini went off a Turn 3 and narrowly avoided the tyre wall. At the end of the session Michelisz stayed on top to secure his first pole position of the season, MacDowall in second was the best placed independent driver while [[Mehdi Bennani]] finished tenth to take pole for race two.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tremayne|first=Sam|title=Suzuka WTCC: Norbert Michelisz puts Honda on home pole|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110015|work=[[Autosport]]|publisher=[[Haymarket Media Group{{!}}Haymarket Publications]]|accessdate=21 September 2013|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> |
Early on in Q2, Michelisz led the RML drivers in the times while Thompson opted not to go out straight away. At the halfway point of the session all the drivers were it the pit lane, Oriola and MacDowall went out before Thompson went out for the first time with just under four minutes left of the session. Oriola looked to be setting a quick lap but didn't improve in the last sector, MacDowall went up to second with Thompson on his first timed lap did not improve from 12th. Muller had a slide at turn one while Tarquini went off a Turn 3 and narrowly avoided the tyre wall. At the end of the session Michelisz stayed on top to secure his first pole position of the season, MacDowall in second was the best placed independent driver while [[Mehdi Bennani]] finished tenth to take pole for race two.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tremayne|first=Sam|title=Suzuka WTCC: Norbert Michelisz puts Honda on home pole|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110015|work=[[Autosport]]|publisher=[[Haymarket Media Group{{!}}Haymarket Publications]]|accessdate=21 September 2013|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> |
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===Warm-Up=== |
===Warm-Up=== |
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Michelisz was fastest in the warm–up session on Sunday morning with Monteiro second.<ref>{{cite news|title=WARM UP - MICHELISZ REMAINS ON TOP|url=http://www.fiawtcc.com/news/detail/id/1519|work=[[World Touring Car Championship]]|publisher=Kigema Sport Organisation|accessdate=22 September 2013|date=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
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===Race One=== |
===Race One=== |
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Michelisz got away from pole position well to keep MacDowall behind him while Monteiro leapt up to third. At the end of the first lap Monteiro attempted to pass MacDowall but ran wide and dropped back behind the RML cars. On lap 4 [[Pepe Oriola]] tapped the back of Tarquini, as the Honda driver tried to regain control Nash went up the inside and moved up ahead of Oriola. Lap 8 saw Yoshimoto run wide at Turn 1. At half distance, Michelisz had built up a healthy lead over MacDowall who had the close company of Muller and Chilton; there was a gap to the rest of the field behind them led by Tarquini. Monteiro was right behind Oriola on lap 19 and trying to take seventh place, he tapped the back of Oriola who recovered but then Monteiro tried to go up the inside of Oriola at Turn 7, crashing into the tyre stack on the apex. At the same time Tarquini went off the track with a left–front puncture which released Nash into fifth place. Monteiro went into the pits for repairs as Oriola was issued with a drive–through penalty for squeezing Montiero off the track. Oriola didn't serve his penalty, he returned to the pits where he retired his car. Michelisz claimed the victory while MacDowall held on to second after defending from Muller and Chilton on the last lap. Muller secured his fourth World Drivers' Championship title with third place.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tremayne|first=Sam|title=Suzuka WTCC: Yvan Muller earns fourth title, Norbert Michelisz wins|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110058|work=[[Autosport]]|publisher=[[Haymarket Media Group{{!}}Haymarket Publications]]|accessdate=22 September 2013|date=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
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===Race Two=== |
===Race Two=== |
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Revision as of 06:24, 22 September 2013
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 Round 10 of 12 in the 2013 World Touring Car Championship at Suzuka Circuit (East Circuit) in Suzuka City, Japan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | 22 September, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Suzuka City, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course | Suzuka Circuit (East Circuit) 2.243 kilometres (1.394 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race One | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Race Two | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2013 FIA WTCC Race of Japan (formally the 2013 FIA WTCC JVC Kenwood Race of Japan) will be the tenth round of the 2013 World Touring Car Championship season and the sixth running of the FIA WTCC Race of Japan. It will be held on 22 September 2013 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Japan.
Race two will be the 200th World Touring Car Championship race to be run since the series began in 2005.[1]
Background
Muller is leading the drivers' championship, he will have his second opportunity to secure a fourth world title during the weekend. Michel Nykjær and James Nash are jointly leading the Yokohama Independents' Trophy.
Before the start of the season the new Eurosport Asia Trophy was launched for drivers entered on a race–by–race basis for the three Asian rounds at the end of the season, starting in Japan. Points would be awarded to the top eight finishers in class with additional points for any World Championship points scored.[2]
The Chevrolet Cruze 1.6Ts continue to be the benchmark cars, retaining their 40kg maximum ballast to set them at 1,190kg. The Honda Civic WTCCs gained 10kg after their strong showing in the United States to take them up to 1,170kg. The Honda of Takuya Izawa was set at the base weight of 1,150kg on its first appearance of the season, this was the test car previous used by Tiago Monteiro in 2012 which was homologated under 2012 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship regulations. Both the SEAT León WTCCs and BMW 320 TCs dropped to the minimum weight of 1,130kg, the same as the Lada Granta WTCCs. The Chevrolet Cruze LTs and the BMW 320sis making their first appearances of the season started on the base weight of 1,150kg.[3]
The Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team added a third car for local driver Takuya Izawa.[4] Franz Engstler was unable to take part in the event due to illness, his replacement was local racer Masaki Kano. This ended Engstler's run of 138 consecutive race entries.[5] Liqui Moly Team Engstler entered a naturally aspirated BMW 320si for Macanese driver Henry Ho.[6] In the week leading up to the race, Yokohama Trophy joint leader Michel Nykjær lost his drive at NIKA Racing due to financial issues,[7] his replacement was Hiroki Yoshimoto.[8] Campos Racing reduced their entry to a single car for Fernando Monje with Hugo Valente not participating. China Dragon Racing joined the grid with a pair of Chevrolet Cruze LTs for Felipe De Souza and Kin Veng Ng,[9] the Son Veng Racing Team ran another naturally aspirated Cruze for series debutant Jerónimo Badaraco.[10] Wiechers-Sport ran Yukinori Taniguchi as the replacement for Fredy Barth who was unable to participate due to other commitments.[11] RPM Racing entered a BMW 320si for Mak Ka Lok.[6]
Report
Testing and free practice
Muller led Pepe Oriola at the end of the first test session on Friday which saw a number of red flags. Souza spun his China Dragon Racing Chevrolet at turn eight, Mikhail Kozlovskiy was the next to get stuck in the gravel while Norbert Michelisz put his Zengő Motorsport Honda also ended his session in the gravel traps.[12]
Monteiro headed a Honda 1–2 in free practice one with Izawa second fastest, championship leader Muller was third. Marc Basseng was black flagged having been towed out of the gravel trap at Turn 8.[13]
Muller was on top in free practice two, Alex MacDowall was second having led the session earlier on. Tom Chilton had a near–miss with his RML team–mate and had to go off the track onto the grass to avoid collecting Muller.[14]
Qualifying
The four Honda cars led by Gabriele Tarquini were the first out on track at the start of Q1. Chilton was fastest earlier on in the session with MacDowall third. Monteiro went to the top of the times 8 minutes in before he was deposed by the fellow Honda of Michelisz. Muller moved to the top of the times with 3 minutes remaining, James Thompson moved into the top 12 at the expense of Charles Ng. Izawa was outside the top 12 and made a last attempt to get through to the second part of qualifying but a trip out onto the grass meant he failed to improve his time, ensuring Robert Huff in 12th was safely through to the next session.
Early on in Q2, Michelisz led the RML drivers in the times while Thompson opted not to go out straight away. At the halfway point of the session all the drivers were it the pit lane, Oriola and MacDowall went out before Thompson went out for the first time with just under four minutes left of the session. Oriola looked to be setting a quick lap but didn't improve in the last sector, MacDowall went up to second with Thompson on his first timed lap did not improve from 12th. Muller had a slide at turn one while Tarquini went off a Turn 3 and narrowly avoided the tyre wall. At the end of the session Michelisz stayed on top to secure his first pole position of the season, MacDowall in second was the best placed independent driver while Mehdi Bennani finished tenth to take pole for race two.[15]
Warm-Up
Michelisz was fastest in the warm–up session on Sunday morning with Monteiro second.[16]
Race One
Michelisz got away from pole position well to keep MacDowall behind him while Monteiro leapt up to third. At the end of the first lap Monteiro attempted to pass MacDowall but ran wide and dropped back behind the RML cars. On lap 4 Pepe Oriola tapped the back of Tarquini, as the Honda driver tried to regain control Nash went up the inside and moved up ahead of Oriola. Lap 8 saw Yoshimoto run wide at Turn 1. At half distance, Michelisz had built up a healthy lead over MacDowall who had the close company of Muller and Chilton; there was a gap to the rest of the field behind them led by Tarquini. Monteiro was right behind Oriola on lap 19 and trying to take seventh place, he tapped the back of Oriola who recovered but then Monteiro tried to go up the inside of Oriola at Turn 7, crashing into the tyre stack on the apex. At the same time Tarquini went off the track with a left–front puncture which released Nash into fifth place. Monteiro went into the pits for repairs as Oriola was issued with a drive–through penalty for squeezing Montiero off the track. Oriola didn't serve his penalty, he returned to the pits where he retired his car. Michelisz claimed the victory while MacDowall held on to second after defending from Muller and Chilton on the last lap. Muller secured his fourth World Drivers' Championship title with third place.[17]
Results
Qualifying
- Bold denotes Pole position for second race.
References
- ^ Auger, Matt (19 September 2013). "Preview: 200 up for WTCC at Suzuka". Touring-Cars.net. Andrew Abbott. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "EUROSPORT LAUNCHES WTCC ASIA TROPHY". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (13 September 2013). "New cars in Japan to run at base weight on first appearance". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Izawa to race for Honda at Suzuka". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ Abbott, Andrew (19 September 2013). "Unwell Engstler replaced by Kano". Touring-Cars.net. Andrew Abbott. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ a b "BMW CARS FOR HENRY HO AND MAK KA LOK". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Michel Nykjær out of Nika Racing". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ Tremayne, Sam (19 September 2013). "Hiroki Yoshimoto takes Michel Nykjaer's World Touring Car seat". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (12 September 2013). "Veng & de Souza back with China Dragon Racing". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "BADARACO JOINS FOR ASIAN ROUNDS". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Yukinori Taniguchi to race for Wiechers-Sport in Suzuka". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ Abbott, Andrew (20 September 2013). "Muller fastest in Suzuka Friday testing". Touring-Cars.net. Andrew Abbott. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "PRACTICE 1 – HONDA CARS TOP TIME SHEET". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ "PRACTICE 2 – MULLER RESTORES HIERARCHY". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ Tremayne, Sam (21 September 2013). "Suzuka WTCC: Norbert Michelisz puts Honda on home pole". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ "WARM UP - MICHELISZ REMAINS ON TOP". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ Tremayne, Sam (22 September 2013). "Suzuka WTCC: Yvan Muller earns fourth title, Norbert Michelisz wins". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
External links
| World Touring Car Championship | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous race: 2013 FIA WTCC Race of the United States |
2013 World Touring Car Championship season | Next race: 2013 FIA WTCC Race of China |
| Previous race: 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Japan |
FIA WTCC Race of Japan | Next race: 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Japan |