Back from the break, the title fights are hotting up...

As the TRB-GT Championship heads into its second half, tfullbrook16 placed one hand firmly on the G2 title with an emphatic win at Suzuka, whilst SJH3991 took the G3 spoils following an epic race long battle with class champion-elect Haff16.

tfullbrook16 continued his run of recent form, taking his third victory of the season, whilst SJH3991 returned to the top of the rostrum for the first time since the second round at Monza.

Fredeliciousx crucially took second place in the G2 class, stopping tfullbrook16 claiming the title with two rounds to go.

In the G3 class, Haff16 was forced to settle for second after a late race incident with lapped traffic put an end to his battle with fellow Mercedes SJH3991, as Lamborghini driver PurplePetrol13 claimed his first TRB-GT podium in emphatic style.

There was a championship victory to celebrate, as HF Impala Racing secured the teams title after a golden season for G2 driver tfullbrook16 and G3's Haff16, featuring nine pole positions, six race wins, and four other podiums totalling an incredible 250 points out of a possible 280...

...so far.

G2 CLASS: tfullbrook16 can taste championship glory with dominant run

tfullbrook16 was once again the class of the G2 field, leading every lap from lights-to-flag to place one hand firmly on the first TRB-GT G2 championship. The British driver lead home Honda's Fredeliciousx and Lexus driver d-morgan16 who scores his first podium since the season opener at the Red Bull Ring.

In a twist of fate tfullbrook16 nearly secured the title at the Japanese circuit, and for a the opening lap was in championship position, however Fredeliciousx's second place stopped the Nissan driver from taking home the title by a mere two points.

The British driver claimed another pole, continuing his 100% streak of the TRB-GT season so far, with the 'Japan-special' liveried Nissan taking top spot with a lap time of 1min 49.566s, over seven tenths faster than Fredeliciousx who qualified on the mediums.

d-morgan16 had a turbulent qualifying session, and would round out the G2 class three seconds slower than tfullbrook16 but matched compounds with the Honda in front.

Away from the rolling start and tfullbrook16 was unchallenged into the sweeping Turn 1 and 2, whilst behind Fredeliciousx ran wide and conceded second place to d-morgan16.

From then till the Spoon Curve, the leading Nissan driver was actually in position to claim the title, until Fredeliciousx re-passed his Lexus competitor with a brave move into the double left-hander.

d-morgan16 would try to fight back, taking to the grass in the pursuit of space on the inside, but the Brit backed out into 130R.

A lap later and the Twix-liveried Lexus would spin into the grass on the inside of the Degner Turns, and when rejoining d-morgan16 collided with the G3 Corvette of Luca_Valli, damaging both cars and forcing them to limp around to pitlane. The incident earned Morgan a warning.

At the front, tfullbrook16 streaked clear on the soft tyres, making his planned stop at the end of lap 12 with a lead of over half a minute to Fredelciousx who had made the first of his two stops on lap 10.

Despite being on the faster tyre, the Honda driver was unable to close the deficit to the race leader after they had both pitted.

However, it was not smooth sailing for the G2 championship leader as on lap 17 tfullbrook16 made contact with the rear of Almarioneko's G3 Lexus, forcing another visit to pitlane.

The British driver could, rather beneficially, get rid of the medium compound tyres and take a set of new softs.

Fredeliciousx made his second stop a lap later and was unlucky to collide with the pit-entry wall, losing more time to the race leader.

At the checkered flag tfullbrook16 lead Fredeliciousx home by 33 seconds, with d-morgan16 a lap down on the other G2 cars.

Leaving the Japanese circuit, tfullbrook16 looks to be set to claim the inaugural TRB-GT G2 championship at Laguna Seca, only needing to outscore Fredeliciousx — the only mathematical challenger — by two points.

G3 Class: SJH3991 takes top spot after race-long battle with Haff16

The Mercedes duo of SJH3991 and Haff16 once again looked the class of the field as the former took his first TRB-GT victory since the second round at Monza, whilst the latter holds on to his championship lead with a hard fought second place.

Like in the previous round at the Nordcshleife third place went to a first-time podium finisher as Lamborghini's PurplePetrol13 executed his best race to claim a healthy score in the battle for fourth place in the G3 class championship.

In qualifying Haff16 claimed his third pole in succession thanks to a 1min59.766s lap, the G3 championship leader was the only driver below the two minute-mark. SJH3991 claimed second around half a second slower than pole as Honda's Clemsie_McKenzie took third. The Frenchman posing a threat over the race distance.

Away from the rolling start and Haff16 and SJH3991 quickly pulled a gap on the rest of the field as drama struck the pack at the Hairpin.

Clemsie ran wide through the Degners on the opening tour, but would only drop behind PurplePetrol13. Moments later the Honda driver then went for a fair overtaking attempt on the inside of the Hairpin before both were taken out by the Boost Brothers' Porsche of Daveskater who was either losing control or attempting a miracle manoeuvre.

The Porsche driver would receive a five points deduction for the move.

Clemsie was then forced to fight back through the order, and a lap later the Frenchman was back in a podium position after passing PurplePetrol13 through the Spoon Curve.

At the front Haff16 lead SJH3991 by a matter of tenths as the duo engaged in the battle of the season. The race-leading HF Impala Racing AMG was able to do enough to keep the newly-designed white and green AMG behind.

Haff16 was forced to prioritise corner exit at the likes of Spoon and the Casio Triangle to stop SJH3991 from being able to make a move into the following corners.

Despite going side-by-side on numerous occasions, the Brit was able to keep his competitor behind until lap five when SJH3991 managed to pass into the first corner. However, his lead would not last long as by the end of the first sector, Haff16 lined up a sensational move around the outside of the first Degner.

The two would run around together until the pit-window opened on lap eight, when Haff16's race look dead and buried after spinning on the exit kerb of 130R. The British driver crawled to pitlane to take a set of mediums for his middle stint, as SJH3991 would go around another two laps before pitting at the end of lap 11 for the medium tyres also.

A seven second gap separated the two Mercedes, most likely the time lost by Haff16 with the spin, and the lead margin would remain stable until the championship leader made his second stop on lap 16.

SJH3991 would cover the undercut by pitting a lap later, but Haff16 had reduced the gap by nearly three seconds.

The latter would remain in close pursuit for the rest of the race until drama involving the second Boost Brothers' Porsche of James_Larman, who was seventh in class, would see any chance of a race win shattered.

Larman would be handed his second post-race penalty as Haff16 was dealt his first warning for a retaliatory move.

SJH3991 crossed the line a matter of seconds ahead of his Mercedes rival, taking his first win since the second race at Monza. The Dutchman, who is now 19 points behind Haff16, is the only G3 championship contender with two rounds to go.

PurplePetrol13 claimed his first TRB-GT podium after a solid run at Suzuka. The Lamborghini driver was embroiled in a race-long battle for the final step on the G3 podium with Clemsie-McKenzie and Almarioneko.

All three would would pit within the first six laps due to damage, and would all hold third position and some point during the event.

Whilst the cameras focused on the battle for the lead, the trio exchanged positions multiple times in the opening laps, and the podium was as undecided as late as lap 17.

Unfortunately for Honda's Clemsie, a mistake exiting the second Degner would drop him behind PurplePetrol13, relegating him to fourth and out of title contention.

It was a difficult race for the Frenchman, who looked like a contender for the race victory in practice and qualifying. Rather uncharacteristically the Honda driver was inconsistent at the Japanese circuit come race day.

Almarioneko would be forced to settle for fifth after a lap 15 spin forced him back to pitlane with mechanical damage but 'The Doctor' now holds an eight point advantage in the battle for fourth in the G3 championship.

Daveskater finished sixth in class but would be handed a points deduction for the move on the opening lap. The best placed of the two Boost Brothers entries drops to sixth in the championship, tied on points with PurplePetrol13 but without a podium result.

James_Larman would cross the line seventh in class, but a post-race review saw the British driver handed a points deduction for the second time this season. Larman will be hoping to repass his teammate in the standings with two races to go.

Luca_Valli drove a commendable race following the collision with d-morgan16 early on. The Argentinian drove a consistent race and only suffered at the hands of other drivers. On lap 14 the sole Corvette entry set a time good enough for second on the grid, showing that in the right position the car has pace.

Debutant Freddybuenhaas completed the field in what was an eventful first foray into the TRB-GT. The Dutchman wanted nothing more than to finish the race, and spent the Suzuka event getting to grips with the BMW M6.

Both Luca_Valli and Freddybuenhaas were elevated a position following post-race penalties for James_Larman.

R E S U L T S : R O U N D 5 : S U Z U K A

1. tfullbrook16 (Nissan) [G2 Leader] 48min21.400s 26 Laps

2. Fredeliciousx (Honda) [G2] +33.742s

3. d-morgan16 (Lexus) [G2] +1 Lap

4. SJH3991 (Mercedes) [G3 Leader] +2 Lap

5. Haff16 (Mercedes) [G3] +2 Lap

6. PurplePetrol13 (Lamborghini) [G3] +2 Laps

7. Clemsie_McKenzie (Honda) [G3] +2 Laps

8. Almarioneko (Lexus) [G3] +3 Laps

9. Daveskater (Porsche) [G3] +3 Laps

10. Luca_Valli (Corvette) [G3] +3 Laps

11. Freddybuenhaas (BMW) [G3] +3 Laps

12. James_Larman (Porsche) [G3] +3 Laps

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G 2: C H A M P I O N S H I P S T A N D I N G S

1. tfullbrook16 (Nissan) | 126 pts

2. Fredeliciousx (Honda) | 72 pts

3. d-morgan16 (Lexus) | 69 pts

4. Doggo_McWoofbork (Honda) | 52 pts

5. theDarrylx (Lexus) | 47 pts

6. noiseymp7 (Nissan) | 0 pts

G 3 : C H A M P I O N S H I P S T A N D I N G S

1. Haff16 (Mercedes) | 124 pts

2. SJH3991 (Mercedes) | 105 pts

3. Clemsie_McKenzie (Honda) | 84 pts

4. Almarioneko (Lexus) | 43 pts

5. PurplePetrol13 (Lamborghini) | 35 pts (Countback - 1x 3rd place)

6. Daveskater (Porsche) | 35 pts

7. Luca_Valli (Corvette) | 34 pts

8. James_Larman (Porsche) | 32 pts

9. Acclaimed_Guy (Porsche) | 6 pts

10. Freddybuenhaas (BMW) | 4 pts

11. noiseyMP7 (Aston Martin) | 3 pts (Points removed due to swap to G2 Class)

T E A M S S T A N D I N G S:

1. HF Impala Racing (tfullbrook16/Haff16) | 250 pts

2. Boost Brothers (James_Larman/Daveskater) | 67 pts

C O N S T R U C T O R S

(Only constructors with more than one entry are eligible)

1. Mercedes (SJH3991/Haff16) | 227 pts

2. Honda (Doggo_McWoofbork/Fredeliciousx/Clemsie_McKenzie) | 208 pts

3. Lexus ( theDarrylx/d-morgan16/Almarioneko) | 159 pts

4. Nissan (tfullbrook16/noiseyMP7) | 126 pts

5. Porsche (James_Larman/Daveskater/Acclaimed_Guy) | 73 pts