» WTCC: Michelisz takes crucial win in Japan

Norbert Michelisz has kept his FIA WTCC title hopes alive by claiming victory in Sunday’s Main Race at Twin Ring Motegi, which was halted by officials at three-quarters distance.

The Hungarian started his Honda from pole position and led the Volvos of Nicky Catsburg and Néstor Girolami for two reconnaissance laps behind the Safety Car before the green flag was waved on Lap 3.

Championship leader Thed Björk made the first critical overtaking move of the race at the end of the first green-flagged lap, passing the Honda of Ryo Michigami for fifth place.

The Japanese driver tried to re-pass the Swede, but only succeeded in making light contact with his Volvo S60. Michigami’s race would soon end when he slid off track into the Turn 9 gravel.

The rain continued to fall more heavily, prompting drivers to take a more cautious approach. Despite this, Opening Race winner Tom Chilton spun his Citroën out of eighth place at Turn 9 and lost two places.

The Race Director called the Safety Car back into action on Lap 7 and it remained on track until Lap 10 before the race was stopped as conditions showed no sign of improving.

Michelisz was therefore declared the winner ahead of Catsburg and Girolami. With 75% of the scheduled race distance completed, full points were awarded. The Hungarian therefore moves into second place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, 16.5 points behind Björk, with Catsburg a further 19 points adrift.

The penultimate round of the 2017 FIA World Touring Car Championship takes place on November 18-19, with the series making a popular return to the streets of Macau.

2017 FIA WTCC Race of Japan – Main Race Final Classification (9 laps)
	Driver	Team	Result	Cat
1.	Norbert Michelisz	Castrol Honda WTCC Team Civic WTCC	22:17.924	MF
2.	Nick Catsburg	Polestar Cyan Racing Volvo S60 TC1	+ 0.392	MF
3.	Néstor Girolami	Polestar Cyan Racing Volvo S60 TC1	+ 1.798	MF
4.	Esteban Guerrieri	Castrol Honda WTCC Team Civic WTCC	+ 3.306	MF
5.	Thed Björk	Polestar Cyan Racing Volvo S60 TC1	+ 5.554	MF
6.	Mehdi Bennani	Sébastien Loeb Racing Citroën C-Elysée	+ 6.196	IND
7.	Yann Ehrlacher	RC Motorsport LADA Vesta WTCC	+ 7.063	IND
8.	Kevin Gleason	RC Motorsport LADA Vesta WTCC	+ 7.537	IND
9.	John Filippi	Sébastien Loeb Racing Citroën C-Elysée	+ 7.911	IND
10.	Tom Chilton	Sébastien Loeb Racing Citroën C-Elysée	+ 8.764	IND
11.	Rob Huff	Münnich Motorsport Citroën C-Elysée	+ 9.633	IND
12.	Kris Richard	Campos Racing Chevrolet RML Cruze	+ 11.544	IND
13.	Tom Coronel	ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze	+ 12.472	IND
14.	Dániel Nagy	Zengõ Motorsport Honda Civic WTCC	+ 13.254	IND
15.	Filipe de Souza	RC Motorsport LADA Vesta WTCC	+ 14.899	IND
16.	Zsolt David Szabó	Zengõ Motorsport Honda Civic WTCC	+ 16.640	IND
	Not Classified
DNF.	Ryo Michigami	Honda Racing Team JAS Civic WTCC	Spin	MF