Round one of the Tokyo double header delivered a dramatic end to the evening, with Dan Ticktum picking up his first race win this season. Snatching the race lead from pole sitter Jake Dennis, Ticktum delivered the victory that CUPRA KIRO needed in this championship fight. Joining him on the podium, Jake Dennis takes second place with Citroën’s Nick Cassidy in P3.
Lap One Drama
A strong push from the start line from the pole-sitter allows him to sit comfortably in P1. Following closely behind, Mortara begins the race in P2, and both extend their lead from the pack. They escape the first incident of the race. The narrow streets of Japan punish Müller for an overtake attempt. Müller suffers from a broken suspension, sending him down the timesheets. A mistake that could cost Porsche crucial points for their teams’ championships battle.
CUPRAs Journey to the Win
A change to the weather prompted a strategic call from several teams. Ticktum takes his PitBoost on Lap 19, taking the undercut against the race leader, Dennis. Deploying his Attack Mode immediately, the Briton flew past the grid and became the race leader for several laps.
Dennis reclaims the title of race leader by Lap 33. Ticktum made the decision to stay behind Dennis, avoiding a challenge and prioritising points for the Teams Championship run. An unexpected power cut in Dennis’s final lap allowed Ticktum to make a race-changing move. Completing an overtake at Turn 16, Ticktum seized the win from Dennis – a first since his race win in Jakarta last season.
Retirement for the Championship Lead
While the battle for the victory unfolded at the front of the grid, an equally exciting battle between former Porsche teammates took place midfield. After a chaotic entrance back to the track after their PitBoost stop, Wehrlein and da Costa collide. Damage caused by the collision forces the championship leader, Wehrlein, into early retirement with a 10-second penalty to serve. Despite da Costa ending the collision with the wall, he was able to put his car back on track and fight back for track position.
The Race Results
Giving CUPRA KIRO their first race win of the season, Ticktum sits at the top of the podium. In P2, Dennis converts his pole position start to 18 points, and Cassidy takes P3.
A Championship Shift
Heading into the weekend, Wehrlein held the advantage, leading the championship. A consistently successful run for the German was paused when he had struggled to score points to further his lead in the championship. Whilst Wehrlein finished last, Mitch Evans stormed through the track, and his strong drive earned him 4th position. A near podium miss was unfortunate for Evans, but the strong points earned him back first place in the championship.
Tomorrow’s race will conclude the Tokyo double header, and with the battle for the championship win proving very close, this race will be one to watch for.