Shinohara’s Audi fastest in TCR Japan test at Fuji

A dozen cars took part in TCR Japan’s pre-season official test that took place at Fuji Speedway today.
Takuro Shinohara’s Audi RS 3 LMS topped the timesheet with a lap of 1:48.043, setting a new unofficial lap record for TCR cars; the official one of 1:48.377 had been timed by Shinohara himself in July 2019. The second fastest lap was set by Shinohara’s teammate at Hitotsuyama Racing, Hideki Nakahara who was six tenths slower.
Behind them ranked Resshu Shioya in the Team G/Motion Honda Civic, series newcomer Mineki Okura in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce run by Stile Corse and ‘Hirobon’ at the wheel of the Birth Racing Project Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Sixth fastest was the Team Wakayama Golf GTI of Takeshi Matsumoto, while Rio Shimono – the first lady driver to join TCR Japan – posted the ninth fastest lap in the Drago Corse Honda Civic.
2019 title contender Shuji Maejima attended the test, however he could not hit the track in the Go&Fun Squadra Corse Giulietta Veloce due to logistic delays in the delivery of the spare parts coming from Italy caused by the restrictions for the Coronavirus emergency.  
The test marked the first appearance of a CUPRA in Japan; team owner Kouichi Okumura drove the car run by Birth Racing Project to set the tenth fastest lap; Yuya Oota was expected to continue the test, but he couldn’t as the team had the same issues as Go&Fun in receiving the spares.

TCR Japan test day - results
1:48.043 Takuro Shinohara (Audi RS 3 LMS)
1:48.695 Hideki Nakahara (Audi RS 3 LMS)
1:48.902 Resshu Shioya (Honda Civic Type R)
1:49.015 Mineki Okura (Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce)
1:49.092 ‘Hirobon’ (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
1:49.294 Takeshi Matsumoto (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
1:49.659 Jun Makino (Audi RS 3 LMS)
1:49.939 Jun Sato (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
1:50.336 Rio Shimono (Honda Civic Type R)
1:50.400 Kouichi Okumura (CUPRA)
1:50.899 Junichi Uemoto (Alfa Romeo Giulietta)
1:51.367 ‘Mototino’ (Alfa Romeo Giulietta)

Picture: TCR Japan