KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) scored two Gentleman class podiums in the TCR Japan Touring Car Series in Okayama with Yukinori ‘Yuke’ Taniguchi who retains his Saturday Series lead, while Matt Howson kept his title hopes alive with two points finishes.

Yuke took his #72 Honda Civic Type R TCR FK8 to the second step of the bronze-grade Gentleman class podium in the opener, his sixth of the season and fourth in the Saturday Series, finishing fourth overall, meaning he retains the championship lead by 12 points ahead of the Suzuka finale.

A seventh-place finish on Sunday and another second-place in class, four seconds ahead of the chasing pack, puts him fourth in the Sunday Series standings.

2015 Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 winner Matt Howson scored strong points in sixth on board the #18 Honda to remain in contention for the Saturday Series title with one race remaining, despite being spun round on the opening lap after contact. This was backed up with another sixth-place finish on Sunday as he hunts for a top five position in the overall championship.

Team founder Paul Ip scored two ninth-place finishes in the Gentleman class on his second race weekend in the series, already claiming a top 10 position in both the Saturday and Sunday Series standings ahead of some of the full-season entrants.

The next outing for the Civic Type R will be KCMG’s one-off return to TCR Europe at Monza (12-13 October), ahead of a Suzuka double for the TCR Japan finale and World Touring Car Cup (26-27 October).

Matt Howson: “Okayama turned out to be an extremely difficult event for KCMG and Honda. After a strong build-up we struggled for outright performance, but still managed a strong fourth in qualifying for race one only to be taken out at Turn 1 on the first lap. Thankfully I managed to keep going and grab essential points in sixth. Race two was less eventful but this time sixth was the best result possible as we struggled for straight line speed. The Saturday Series title is still up for grabs so we shall give it everything at Suzuka to steal back the top spot.”

Yuke Taniguchi: “It was a decent weekend for us with two class podiums so we can be happy with that. The Honda Civic Type R has performed well all season and with another good result in Okayama I have the Gentleman class Saturday Series lead going into the Suzuka finale, so we’re focussed on doing well there.”

Paul Ip: “It was good to be back in the Honda again, especially after such a good debut weekend and although I didn’t score as many points this time I’m still pleased with my performance. It’s important for me to be getting as much seat time as possible before representing Team Hong Kong in the FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup in November.”