Honda hoping test programme pays off for Motegi home race

The Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team head to the Twin Ring Motegi this weekend, the home race of the Japanese marque, not least of all since Honda built the circuit in 1997, and hope to have closed the gap to Citroën following a major test programme during the off season.

Following on from a tough few races at least in terms of overall pace, the Honda team will benefit from the latest compensation weight calculations, running 60kg lighter than the Citroën C-Elysées this weekend, and the same weight as manufacturer rivals Lada, while the privateer Chevrolets will be 10kg heavier this weekend.

Tiago Monteiro, having taken Honda’s only win of 2015 to-date in Moscow in June, calls Japan his second home race, after joining Honda back in 2012 for their WTCC debut.

“I am always very excited to come to Japan, it’s my favourite country with fantastic people, plenty of culture and lovely food,” said Monteiro. “So I always look forward to coming back. We know a little bit of the track for having done a few laps in Super GT and it should be a good track for our Civic WTCC. After the summer break I am extra motivated to get back on the podium and hopefully, take some more wins. Bring on Motegi.”

With Monza having been dropped from the calendar for 2014, Gabriele Tarquini on the other hand calls Motegi his only home race. The Italian driver is aiming for strong results at the Japanese circuit this weekend.

“It is the most important event of the season for the Honda team,” said Tarquini. “Last year I won the second race in Suzuka, and I felt the passion from the Japanese fans. They are very passionate, like the Italian ‘Tifosi’, so I hope to have a good weekend in Motegi.

“We’ve never raced there but I think we can be close to the competition with the support of our Japanese fans. I drove a few laps in Motegi with the Honda Super GT car two years ago on the ‘Honda Thanks Day’- it’s an impressive place and I am excited to return.”