Typhoons between China – venue of the latest round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship – and Japan have caused significant delay to vessel routings and operations in the area. As a result, the scheduled WTCC container shipment from Shanghai to Tokyo has been delayed.

In order to give teams sufficient time to unpack equipment and ready cars for technical inspection and competitive use, while also allowing venue set-up to be completed, WTCC track action is now scheduled to begin with Free Practice 1 at 15h15 local time on Saturday 28 October having originally been due to get underway at 08h00.

Free Practice 2, Qualifying, WTCC MAC3 and the Opening Race and Main Race will take place on the same day, Sunday 29 October. Drivers will meet fans in the pit lane from 12h10. The revised WTCC track activity schedule, which remains subject to further change, appears below.

All track sessions will be available live on the Eurosport Player with delayed coverage of Qualifying and WTCC MAC3 broadcast on Eurosport 1 at 04h30 CET and 05h15 CET respectively. Live coverage of the Opening Race and Main Race will follow on Eurosport 1 from 05h45 CET and 07h00 CET respectively. Selected networks around the world, including J SPORTS in Japan, will also broadcast extensive live coverage. Viewers are advised to check local listings for details.

Saturday 28 October:
15h15-16h00: Free Practice 1

Sunday 29 October:
08h00-08h45: Free Practice 2
09h40-10h00: Qualifying Q1 
10h05-10h15: Qualifying Q2
10h20 (pit lane opens for first car): Qualifying Q3
10h40-10h55: WTCC MAC3
14h15-14h40: Opening Race (11 laps)
15h30-16h00: Main Race (13 laps)

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCC promoter, said: “Unfortunately, the weather is something we cannot control and we hope fans watching on TV and making the trip to Twin Ring Motegi won’t experience too much inconvenience. In DHL, the WTCC’s Official Logistics Partner, our other logistical consultants and operational staff, we have the perfect team of people working to ensure delays are kept to a minimum. And while it’s going to be a busy Sunday, we have managed similar timetable congestion effectively in the past. We look forward to a great show.”