SUZUKA CIRCUIT, Japan, July 29, 2018 - F.C.C. TSR Honda France has won the FIM* Endurance World Championship (EWC) title by finishing fifth in the final round, the 41st “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, becoming the first Japanese endurance racing team to take the title.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France has competed in the EWC since 2016. Ranked 7th in its first year, the team made solid improvements in the following 2016-2017 season by finishing 4th. After clinching 3rd in this season’s opening round at Bol d’Or the team became the first Japanese team to win the Le Mans 24 hour race. With its subsequent win in Germany, F.C.C. TSR Honda France has been on the podium in every race this season, and led the championship points into Suzuka.
The team concentrated on maintaining their points lead at the Suzuka 8 Hours race, and by finishing 5th, increased their lead over the closest competition to secure the championship.
- *FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
Masakazu Fujii | F.C.C. TSR Honda France Team Manager
“First, we’re in this position today because of Suzuka. We kept on fighting so we could get the results and win at Suzuka. I have been on the podium all over the world, but it’s different standing on the Suzuka podium. We’ll try next year to win the Suzuka 8 Hours. We don’t have the best riders, nor do we have the best bike. Our team is not extraordinary. But still, I seriously believed we could become world champions. We could only achieve winning the championship with the support of everyone in Japan, or ‘Team Japan.’ I believed that we would come back to Suzuka to win the championship. Thank you all for your support.”
Freddy Foray | F.C.C. TSR Honda France
“I feel really great. The team has done its best since the start of the season, no matter what the circumstances. I am so glad that the whole team’s efforts are rewarded like this. I’m also glad we won the championship at Suzuka Circuit, the home track for Team Manager Fujii, Honda, and TSR, and in front of so many Japanese fans. We couldn’t have won the title at a better place.”
Josh Hook | F.C.C. TSR Honda France
“We have done our best all season for this moment. We have raced in each event to win. All of our hard work has come together today, with us becoming the champions, so I’m so happy. I’d like to thank the whole team from the bottom of my heart. Team Manager Fujii and everyone at TSR have been so good to me since I started in the All Japan races, so I’m happy I could return the favor by winning the championship at TSR’s home track at Suzuka.”
Alan Techer | F.C.C. TSR Honda France
“This is my first EWC title. I feel absolutely great! I’ve been in this series since Le Mans in 2016, and I couldn’t have imagined winning the championship in my third season. I’m grateful to Team Manager Fujii for giving me the opportunity to race for the team. It is really special that we were able to win the championship in front of all the wonderful Japanese fans at the Suzuka Circuit. I’ll never forget the sight from the podium tonight. Lastly, congratulations to F.C.C. TSR Honda France and Bridgestone!”