Honda heads home this weekend (September 3-4) ready to fight for race wins in the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship as the series moves on to Twin Ring Motegi for the Race of Japan
Tiago Monteiro, Rob Huff and Norbert Michelisz have secured three wins and an additional 12 podium finishes this year and will be joined at Honda’s home circuit by experienced Japanese driver Ryo Michigami in a fourth Civic WTCC
All four drivers aim to strengthen Honda’s second place in the manufacturers’ title race and add to the Japanese manufacturer’s victory tally.
Tiago, who lies second in the drivers’ championship, was victorious on the WTCC’s maiden visit to Motegi last year. The Portuguese will use his knowledge of the Honda-owned circuit to full advantage as he chases a repeat result.
Rob, who climbed to fourth in the points after a double podium in Argentina, is preparing for his first Japanese WTCC event as a Honda driver. The Briton has a strong record of seven podiums – including a win – in the country already; those results achieved at Okayama, Suzuka and Motegi.
Norbert has been one of the star performers in Japan in recent seasons. He claimed his maiden WTCC podium in Japan in 2010 and has stood on the rostrum for each of the past three seasons; the Hungarian’s results including a victory in 2013 in a Honda.
WTCC debutant Ryo joins the team as a wild-card entrant at Motegi. Despite being a new face in the paddock, the Japanese driver has a wealth of experience and was involved in the development of the Civic Type R road car. As a former Super GT champion with Honda, Ryo will be an extremely popular addition to the roster this weekend.
At Motegi, the Civics will run 80kg of compensation weight – the heaviest handicap allowed by the regulations – for the first time in 2016 as the championship aims to equalise the performance of all the competing cars based on their outright pace over the past three rounds.
Tiago Monteiro, Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team,
said: “I’m in the privileged position of having won for Honda in Japan, so I’ve seen first-hand what a victory can do for a manufacturer when it comes on home soil and the kind of reaction you get from the supporters in the grandstands. Having 80kg of compensation weight gives all the Honda drivers an additional challenge, but we were only 20kg lighter than that in Argentina and had very good speed in racing conditions, so I think we have some reasons to be optimistic about our chances of strong results.”
Rob Huff, Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team,
said: “The double podium in Argentina was just the boost I needed ahead of the final third of the season. Motegi is one of the best circuits on the calendar for racing as it’s nice and wide and there are several big braking zones that create good overtaking opportunities. While I’ve raced in Japan many times – and won there in the WTCC – this will be the first time I’ve done so for a Japanese manufacturer. With this in mind, I’d love to give what I’m sure will be a big crowd of Honda fans something to cheer about.”
Norbert Michelisz, Honda Racing Team JAS,
said: “Racing in Japan is always a pleasure because the fans are incredibly enthusiastic and support the drivers very well. Since I started racing a Honda, this has only increased and now that I’m going back as a factory driver, it might be the best experience yet. Having 80kg of compensation weight isn’t ideal for Honda’s home race, but I’m confident we have the car to compete right at the front, as was the case in Argentina with 60kg. I’m sixth in the points, but part of the battle for the runner-up spot, which will make the rest of the year exciting.”
Ryo Michigami, Honda Racing Team JAS,
said: “I’m very excited to be making my WTCC debut at Motegi and very thankful for the opportunity given to me by Honda Racing Team JAS. I tested the Civic WTCC at Barcelona in the summer and I was impressed with how consistently fast it felt. I was reasonably pleased with my own pace, both in qualifying simulations with new tyres, and on race runs, and I have done more work since then on the Honda simulator. I will race with my heart and soul and put all my experience to best use
