DHL pole-sitter Michelisz forms part of successful Honda attack
Team Volvo Polestar settles for second at Twin Ring Motegi
Hondaās successful start to its home round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship continued with the Japanese makeās trio of factory drivers ā Esteban Guerrieri, Norbert Michelisz and Ryo Michigami ā claiming victory in the Manufacturers Against the Clock team time trial.
They set set a two-lap target of 4m25.354s around the 4.801-kilometre Twin Ring Motegi in heavy rain with Team Volvo unable to to find an answer to Hondaās effort.
With Guerrieri ā Tiago Monteiroās temporary stand-in at Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team ā taking part in WTCC MAC3 for the first time, the performance was particularly impressive.
āCongratulations to the Honda team,ā the Argentine said. āIām getting up to pace in the car and there was a good pace set by Norbi [Michelisz] ahead of me. But itās tough to follow in the spray, itās difficult to see anything. It will be challenging in the races later on.ā
Hondaās triumph means it scores 12 points towards the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Manufacturers with Volvo Polestar adding eight points to its leading total.
Team Volvo Polestarās Nicky Catsburg, NĆ©stor Girolami and Thed Bjƶrk were off the Honda pace from the beginning of WTCC MAC3. The trioās two-lap time was 2.5s down on Hondaās threesome following a no-risk approach in the difficult conditions.
The on-track action continues later today with the 11-lap Opening Race due to get underway atĀ 14h15Ā local time followed by the Main Race, which is scheduled for 13 laps, beginning atĀ 15h30.