KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) claimed the inaugural TCR Japan Touring Car Series drivers’ championship at the Suzuka finale with Matt Howson, who also claimed the Saturday Series title, while Yukinori ‘Yuke’ Taniguchi secured the Gentleman class Saturday Series honours.

Although he challenged for the lead on board the #18 Honda Civic Type R TCR from the front row of the grid, Howson maintained second in the opening stages of race one, which was heavily interrupted by a safety car for an incident further back. Howson held on to second, however, and a third visit to the podium in the Saturday Series was enough for the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 winner to take the title.

Having qualified on the front row again for race two, the British racer rounded out the season in style with victory to become the maiden overall TCR Japan champion.

Taniguchi also left Suzuka with a series crown, as his fourth-place finish among the bronze grade drivers in race one gave him the Gentleman class Saturday Series honours. Unfortunately contact in race two meant he did not make the chequered flag, but finished eighth in the overall standings after an impressive campaign.

KCMG founder Paul Ip put in a mighty qualifying effort to put his #22 Honda second in the Gentleman class for race one. The Hong Kong racer scored an eighth- and ninth-place finish in class as he prepares to represent his home nation in the FIA Motorsport Games this coming weekend (November 1-3).

Jim Ka To made his World Touring Car Cup debut for KC Motorgroup, also in the Civic Type R. He drove cleanly, finishing all three races before joining Ip at Team Hong Kong in Vallelunga, Rome for the FIA Motorsport Games and will return to the WTCR grid for Macau.

Matt Howson: “The final round of TCR Japan at Suzuka turned out to be one of the toughest yet most successful of the season. Both races were door-banging dogfights and full of safety cars, so to come away with a second and a victory to seal the drivers’ title and help Honda win the manufacturers’ is just amazing. It’s also a testament to KCMG who improved the car to its best for this tough battle. I'd like to extend huge thanks to my whole team, my engineers Adam and Matteo, JAS Motorsport, Honda and of course Paul Ip for having the vision to create this whole dream. After 11 years with KCMG, it's amazing to win a championship together. We'll enjoy this for a long time!”

Yuke Taniguchi: “It’s been a fantastic season with KCMG and the Honda Civic Type R TCR, winning the Gentleman class Saturday Series championship is an incredible feeling. Many thanks to the team for an amazing year and congratulations to Honda for the manufacturers’ title.”

Paul Ip: “The team has done a stellar job all year and performed extremely well in the first year of TCR Japan. My congratulations to Matt, Yuke and Honda for their titles. I really enjoyed the weekend and am now looking forward to representing Team Hong Kong in the FIA Motorsport Games in Rome.”

Jim Ka To: “It was a great experience to compete in my first WTCR event. We had some speed and were only two tenths away from a top 12 starting position. I’m delighted to have finished all three races and we improved throughout. I had to get used to standing starts as previously I had only performed rolling starts with this car. I’m happy with my weekend and look forward to Macau.”