Nissan: Takaboshi takes double victory in F3 Japan

 

SUZUKA, Japan – He will be back in action for Nissan GT Academy Team RJN at the next round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in a couple of weeks, but Mitsonori Takaboshi has been busy collecting trophies at home in Japan during the a break in the Blancpain calendar.

The Japanese ace finished last weekend’s Japanese Formula 3 championship weekend with two victories aboard the No.21 B-MAX NDDP entry.

Championship contender and former GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough was actually first to cross the finish line in Saturday’s race, which would have been his second consecutive win.

 

 

However, race officials alleged Mardenborough was at fault for contact made at the famous chicane while making a move for the race lead. After collecting the winner’s trophy on the podium, Mardenborough later learned he had been given a 40-second post-race penalty – elevating Takaboshi to the win.

In Sunday’s race in damp conditions, Takaboshi was first across the line to make it two wins from two races, with Mardenborough joining him on the podium in third.

 

 

“I’m really pleased to be able to win today by being first across the line,” Takaboshi said on Sunday. “The track conditions were tricky today, but my pace was really good. I worked hard with my engineer and we ended up with a really strong car. I’m thrilled to come away with a result like this with two victories before I head back to Europe to get back in the GT-R for the Blancpain GT Series.”

Mardenborough remains in strong contention for the championship – only 10 points out of the points lead. Takaboshi will be back aboard the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 at Circuit Paul Ricard in two weeks where he, Alex Buncombe and Lucas Ordóñez will be out to repeat last year’s victory here at the same venue for the No.23 Nissan.

NISMO Calendar

June 12-13
24 Hours of Le Mans Scrutineering

June 18-19
24 Hours of Le Mans
Australian Supercars, Hidden Valley, Darwin, Northern Territory
Nissan Micra Cup, Autodrome St-Eustache, Quebec, Canada

June 25-26
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Circuit Paul Ricard, France
Pirelli World Challenge, Road America, WI, USA

 

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Contact

Jane Johnstone
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Global Motorsport Communications
Nissan/NISMO
Phone: +44 7979 710646
Email: jane.johnstone@nissan.co.uk

Paul Ryan
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Phone: +1 678 644 0404
Email: paul@nismosupport.com