TCR / 03 April 2017

Success on two continents for JAS-built Honda Civic TCRs

JAS Motorsport-built Honda Civic Type R TCRs enjoyed success on two continents as the 2017 Super Taikyu and TCR International Series got underway last weekend (April 1-2).

A pair of Civics, which carry manufacturer support from Honda, dominated the new ST-R class of Japan’s ultra-popular Super Taikyu series at Twin Ring Motegi, finishing first and second.

Victory went to Takuya Kurosawa, Hiroki Kato and Keishi Ishikawa in their Motul Dome Racing Project car; the trio finishing 12 seconds ahead of the sister Modulo Racing Project car of birthday boy Shinji Nakano, Shinichi Itoh and Shinichi Ebisawa.

Also taking place during the weekend was the opening round of TCR International at the brand-new Rustavi International Motorpark in Georgia.

Norbert Michelisz’s newly-launched M1RA squad, who are running a pair of Civic Type R TCRs, made a superb race debut and lie second in the Teams’ Championship.

M1RA’s Hungarian teenager Attila Tassi secured a superb third place in Race Two and holds second spot in the Drivers’ Championship with nine events remaining of the global series. Team-mate Roberto Colciago was fourth in Race One and holds eighth in the points table.

Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader, said: "It's been a fantastic weekend for the Honda Civic Type R TCR, built by JAS Motorsport. To move into a series as competitive as Super Taikyu and instantly finish first and second was beyond anyone's expectations and I have to thank Honda for pledging their support to this project and to Dome Racing Team for running the programme so well. This result, along with the podium finish achieved by the brand-new M1RA team in TCR International, is a result of the incredible work by the team at JAS to complete these cars to tight deadlines and to a race-winning standard. We hope our customers can achieve many more successes for the Civic in 2017."