Gabriele Tarquini arrived in Japan with a seven-point lead over SEAT Sport teammate Yvan Muller.

SUNRED Engineering placed Japanese-based Brazilian João Paulo de Oliveira in their third car for the race,[1] taking it over from Andrea Larini.

[3] Independent SEAT drivers Marin Čolak and Mehdi Bennani did not travel to Japan, while Fabio Fabiani did not follow-up his one-off drive for Proteam at the previous race in Italy.

[4] Yvan Muller was quickest in Friday's test session, ahead of Farfus and the SEAT trio of Tiago Monteiro, Rickard Rydell and Gabriele Tarquini.

[6] Farfus was also the quickest in the second practice session, ahead of BMW Team Germany teammate Jörg Müller and his namesake Yvan.

[8] Farfus set the quickest time in the Sunday morning warm-up, ahead of Gené, Jörg Müller, Rickard Rydell and Tiago Monteiro.

Farfus lead Priaulx home to give another one-two finish for BMW, ahead of Yvan Muller.