Real Racing and Honda triumph at Autopolis

A moment they hadn't been accustomed to for quite a while. Still without the slightest victory since the start of the season in Okayama last April, Real Racing defeated the Indian sign this Sunday near Autopolis, scene of the penultimate round of the campaign.

However, Nobuharu Matsushita and Koudai Tsukakoshi were not the big favorites in their No. 17 Honda NSX-GT. It must be said that starting from 4^e Instead, the task did not look easy for the men of Real Racing. And yet, the hazards of the race would work in their favor.

After the status quo of the first 17 laps in the lead with Daiki Sasaki (Kondo Racing) in control ahead of Tadasuke Makino (Team Kunimitsu), Yuji Kunimito (Bandoh) and therefore Nobuharu Matsushita, the race experienced its first turnarounds at this point. While Toyota of Team Mach got stuck in the gravel, Nobuharu Matsushita took the opportunity to scold Yuji Kunimoto.

Real Racing, more than a year later

The first pit stops then took place around the 22^e round with the refueling of Tadasuke Makino who gave way to Naoki Yamamoto before Nobuharu Matsushita did the same with Koudai Tsukakoshi the following lap. A profitable strategy which allowed Real Racing to exit in front of the No. 100 Honda NSX-GT of Team Kunimitsu while awaiting the pit-stop of leader Daiki Sasaki.

The strategy of the future winners would finally bear fruit on two occasions as Kohei Hirate, teammate of Daiki Sasaki, came out 3^e and paid the high price for a longer stint of 5 laps. Too fast to be caught, Koudai Tsukakoshi crossed the finish line alone in front of Naoki Yamamoto who resisted the return of Kohei Hirate thus taking 2^e place for a little less than 3 tenths.

As the final round of the year approaches in Motegi (November 6), five crews can still be crowned champions. Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi (NDDP Racing) remain at the top of the championship with 58 points. Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette (Team Impul) are 2 and a half lengths behind, followed by Nobuharu Matsushita and Koudai Tsukakoshi with 54 units. A little further, Naoki Yamamoto and Tadasuke Makino have 41 points while Sacha Fenestraz and Ritomo Miyata (TOM'S) have 38. However, these last two duos will need a small miracle to hope to be titled in a month.

Rankings to come…

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