【2021 End Of Season Review】F.C.C. TSR Honda France ends the 2021 FIM Endurance World Championship in fifth position showing an outstanding display of teamwork and determination throughout the season

Due to Covid-19, the initial calendar was modified, and the iconic race Suzuka 8 Hours and 8 Hours of Oschersleben were cancelled. In order to maintain the FIM EWC calendar, a new European race, the 6 Hours of Most was added to the calendar.

The opening round, the 24 Heures Motos initially scheduled for April, was postponed until 12th and 13th June because of the health crisis, and it was held behind closed doors on the Bugatti circuit.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France finished the 44th edition of the 24 Heures Motos in 10th aboard their Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, having been in podium contention until the early morning hours. Last year’s winners entered the race's final quarter in 2nd place, but just six hours to go, a technical issue forced the team to lose time in the pit box. All the crew worked hard to get the team back out on the track although the team was positioned in 6th place.

In the late hours of the race, a crash forced the team to enter the pit again, where the mechanics did a world-class job in repairing the Honda #5. Demonstrating true endurance spirit, fighting until the end, the Japanese team finished the race in 10th position.

National Motos took an incredible victory in the Superstock class with an amazing performance, starting the race from 18th on the grid and finishing 5th overall.  The Honda #55 took the lead of its class at the halfway point of the race.

At night, Kevin Trueb had a problem with his right hand, and the team manager decided to race with only two riders, Stéphane Égea and Guillaume Antiga, making their win even more impressive.

The Estoril circuit hosted the second round of the 2021 World Endurance Championship on Saturday, 17th July. F.C.C. TSR Honda France took an incredible victory on Saturday, winning the 12 Hours of Estoril, after completing 417 laps of the 4.182 km Portuguese circuit aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

The Japanese team fought hard aboard the Fireblade SP, and with a consistent race pace, they took the win despite the hot conditions. After a promising start from 4th place on the grid, Mike Di Meglio moved straight into 2nd place.

The Honda #5 led several times depending on pit stops and never left the front. Consistent stints by the Honda’s endurance specialists Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio, and Yuki Takahashi, without making a single mistake, allowed the team to stand out an incredible race with an edge-of-seat final half an hour.

National Motos on the Fireblade #55 also enjoyed a strong race. The trio of Guillaume Antiga, Stéphane Égea and Enzo Boulom, who started in 13th place on the grid (4th in Superstock class), finished again on the podium, claiming 2nd place.

The third round of the FIM EWC season, the prestigious 24-hour race Bol d’Or, took place on 18th and 19th September at the circuit of Paul Ricard with the fans and spectators back in attendance, a first since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

An excellent start by the French rider Mike Di Meglio immediately put the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP in the top three. Two minor crashes from Yuki Takahashi in the afternoon prolonged the pit stops of the team. After excellent work from the team, the riders set off on a magnificent comeback from 23rd to 5th place.

At midnight the rain appeared, but the riders offered a true demonstration with the Honda equipped with Bridgestone tyres and with consisting lap times, the team was placed in 3rd position. Despite all the teamwork and a ‘never give up’ attitude, the Japanese team was forced to retire after experiencing a mechanical issue in the 12th hour.

The Honda privateer team RAC 41 Chromeburner took the 2nd place in the Superstock class and 4th overall on their CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

With very solid lap times and formidable effectiveness of the Fireblade #41, the Honda team of Chris Leesch, Grégory Fastré and Wayne Tessel ended the Bol d’Or in 2nd position of the Superstock class, having started the race from 15th on the grid.

The 6 Hours of Most, the final round of the FIM EWC, took place on 9th October at the Autodrome Most in the Czech Republic.

F.C.C TSR Honda France started from the 4th place on the starting grid, and the Frenchman Mike Di Meglio made a great race start, taking the lead briefly on the second lap. On this demanding track, the Fireblade #5 was placed in 2nd place during the first two hours of the race, with a solid race and good lap timing but just entering the third hour of the race, the Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi had a crash that forced the rider to enter the pits.

Although an excellent work from the team to fix the bike, an extended pit stop of almost 17 minutes made the Honda rejoin the race in 23rd position, but the team was forced to retire in the fourth hour after a technical issue resulting from the crash.

Faithful to the values of true endurance, neither the riders, Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio, and Yuki Takahashi nor the entire team spared their efforts to end the 2021 FIM EWC season with their heads high and showing superb teamwork throughout all the season.

After a season of highs and lows for the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, they finished the championship fifth with 91 points and are determined to come back stronger for the 2022 season.

Race Reports

• Rd.01 National Motos take incredible victory in STK at the 24h Motos at Le Mans whilst F.C.C. TSR Honda France denied the chance to continue their podium fight

• Rd.02 F.C.C. TSR Honda France win the 12 Hours of Estoril

• Rd.03 RAC 41 Chromeburner finishes second in Superstock and fourth overall at the Bol d’Or

• Rd.04 Disappointment for F.C.C. TSR Honda France at the 6 Hours of Most