Suzuka, Race 2: Home win for Tarquini’s Honda

After living the crowning of José María López, Japanese fans could enjoy another very emotional moment: the superb win at home of a Honda Civic.

Gabriele Tarquini left no options to anyone in Race 2, taking a lights-to-flag win from the pole. It was a definitely unusual podium, with Dušan Borković taking a brilliant second spot with the Campos Racing Chevrolet Cruze and Norbert Michelisz completing Honda’s success in third.

Tom Coronel was fourth and managed to keep at bay the three Citroën cars of Muller, López and Loeb, who could never approach the top positions. Hugo Valente, who was holding an excellent fifth position in the initial laps, was not rewarded of his efforts, as he was hit and ousted of the race by an attack of Muller that is currently investigated by the Stewards.

It was also a day to remember in TC2T, as John Filippi took his maiden win, at the wheel of the SEAT León of Campos Racing, following Engstler’s retirement, thus rounding the excellent day of the Spanish squad.

Key moments

— Grid – Bennani doesn’t make the grid
— Start – It’s a lively but orderly start, with Tarquini and Borković keeping first row advantage
— Lap 1 – Michelisz tries to pass Borković at the chicane and there is contact; Tarquini leads with 1.3 seconds over Borković, Michelisz, Coronel, Valente and the three Citroën cars of Muller, Loeb and López
— Lap 2 – López goes very wide in T15 but rejoins
— Lap 3 – Big fight for fifth, with Valente holding the three Citroën cars behind, which allows Tarquini to pull away
— Lap 4 – Also Loeb runs wide at turn 15 while, Engstler retires with a broken driveshaft
— Lap 5 – Muller touches Valente at T14 sending him into a half-spin; Valente is forced to retire. In the turmoil that follows, López passes Loeb after a little touch
— Lap 9 – López tries in vain to overcome Muller and they make contact
— Lap 11 – Nothing changes: Tarquini wins, while Filippi takes a maiden victory in TC2T