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WTCC at Twin Ring Motegi: Japanese victories for Chilton, Michelisz

  • WTCC Japan Main Race
  • WTCC Japan Opening Race

Tom Chilton (Sebastien Loeb Racing, Citroen C-Elysee) and Norbert Michelisz (Castrol Honda Team, Honda Civic WTCC) are the winners of two races of the 8th round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship season today at Twin Ring Motegi.

After the Japanese WTCC round, Volvo’s Thed Bjork extends the championship lead as his main rival Tiago Monteiro skipped one more event. He’s still recovering from injuries.

WTCC Japan, Opening race winner Tom Chilton

Tom Chilton celebrates his second WTCC win of the season

Briton Tom Chilton scored his second WTCC win of the season in the#3 Citroen C-Elysee. Due to reversed grid for the Opening Race, Chilton started from P2, next to the pole-sitter Kevin Gleason in a Lada Vesta.

Chilton took the lead at Turn 1 and stayed in front for eleven laps, crossing the finish line 13.158 seconds ahead of Yan Ehrlacher in another Lada Vesta. Esteban Guerrieri, whow was chosen to replace Monteiro in Honda’s factory team, finished in the third place. Guerrieri had a tough fight against points leader Thed Bjork in the #62 Volvo S60, who finished fourth.

Mehdi Bennani (Citroen) followed in P5, ahead of Kevin Gleason, Norbert Michelisz and Rob Huff (Citroen). Nicky Catsburg (Volvo) and Ryo Michigami (Honda) were the last two point-scorers. Seventeen drivers took part in the race.

WTCC japan, Norbert Michelisz

Norbert MIchelisz with Japanese fans

In the Main Race, Norbert Michelisz converted pole position into his third win of the season. After just four laps of proper racing under green flag conditions, the Safety Car slowed the race because of a heavy rainfall. The race was then shortened to nine laps.

Michelisz has won ahead of two Volvos of Nicky Catsburg and Nestor Girolami. Esteban Guerrieri finished fourth, ahead of Thed Bjork. Other point-scorers are Mehdi Bennani, Yann Ehrlacher, Kevin Gleason, John Filippi and Tom Chilton.

Championship leader Thed Björk now has 228.5 points, with Michelisz following him with 212 points. Tiago Monteiro, who missed two rounds, has 200 points. The next WTCC round is scheduled for November 16-17 in Macau.

Check the full results of the Japanese WTCC round

Photos: fiawtcc.com,

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