The World Touring Car Championship organisers have been forced to revise the schedule for this weekend’s race at Motegi in Japan due to a typhoon passing between China and Japan, which has delayed the container shipment from Shanghai to Tokyo.

Free Practice 2, qualifying and MAC3 have been moved from Saturday to Sunday, the first time qualifying has been held on a Sunday since Beijing in 2014.

“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,” said François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCC promoter.

”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.”

Revised schedule for WTCC Race of Japan

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)