Takuro Shinohara takes his second victory of the year at Motegi

Takuro Shinohara of Audi Team Hitotsuyama claimed a lights-to-flag victory in Race 1 at Motegi, host of the second TCR Japan series round.

Shinohara had claimed the pole position for Race 1, with Takeshi Matsumoto of Team Wakayama alongside on the front row.

Shinohara took the lead at the start of the race, but Matsumoto briefly got side-by-side on the inside of Turn 1. Rio Shimono, driving a Honda Civic Type-R TCR, settled in third.

Team G-Motion driver Resshu Shioya and Hirobon, driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, overtook Hideki Nakahara on the second lap for fourth position.

Shioya continued his way forward, attacking Hirobon and overtook him for fourth place on lap five.

In the closing stages of the race, Shimono closed the gap to Matsumoto, but it wasn’t enough to threaten the Team Wakayama driver.

At the chequered flag, Shinohara took his second victory of the year, with Matsumoto and Shimono close behind in second and third.

Shioya finished fourth, followed by Hirobon and Nakahara. Junichi Unemoto, driving an Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR from J’S Racing, finished seventh, followed by manufacturer colleague Mineki Okura of Team Stile Corse.

Audi driver Kenji Suzuki and Mototino completed the top ten.

Motegi Race 2 is scheduled for Sunday morning at 11:55 local time, 04:55 CEST.