Norbert Michelisz wins rain-aborted second race at Motegi

Norbert Michelisz has won the second race of the weekend in Motegi, which featured just four laps of green flag racing as the rain continued to lash the Japanese circuit, with the officials calling it after 75% of the scheduled distance was completed.

The Hungarian started from pole position in the Honda and led the field behind the safety car for two reconnaissance laps before the race was started on lap three, with Michelisz leading the way ahead of Nicky Catsburg and Néstor Girolami’s Volvos.

The first critical pass was made by Volvo’s Thed Björk, who passed the Honda of Ryo Michigami for fifth at the end of the first racing lap, though Michigami tried to repass the Swede, making light contact with the rear of Björk’s Volvo S60.

Michigami’s race soon ended at Turn 9, as he slipped off into the gravel, and came back into the pits to retire after he’d received outside assistance.

The race continued as a procession as the drivers were cautious in the ever heavier falling rain for two laps, before Race 1 winner Tom Chilton spun his Citroën around at Turn 9 and dropped from eighth to tenth, with the race director calling the safety car back into action on lap seven.

The safety car remained on track until lap 10, when it was decided to call the race with no sign of the conditions improving, with full-points awarded with 75% of the scheduled distance complete.

Michelisz therefore takes the maximum score and launches to second in the drivers’ standings assuming full points are awarded, 16.5 points behind Thed Björk who’s now on 228.5 points.

Nicky Catsburg now moves up to third in the standings, 19 points behind team-mate Björk, with Monteiro fourth, 28.5 points behind with Tom Chilton slipping to fifth, 44 points behind.

The next round of the WTCC takes place at Macau on November 19th.