NIKA Racing has confirmed Japanese racer Hiroki Yoshimoto as Michel Nykjær’s replacement for the Suzuka and Macau rounds of the 2013 World Touring Car Championship.
“I want to take this opportunity to welcome Hiroki to the team before the final part of the season – we are happy to have him with us,” explains NIKA Racing Team Manager Nicklas Karlsson. “His vast experience in a wide range of different cars – combined with his proven speed and local knowledge – Hiroki did a natural choice for these Asian races, and we look forward to working with him.
“We are in the midst of an intense process of work for next year, where we want to evaluate all aspects of our business – including potential drivers – and our most important task right now is to put a really good foundation for the future.
“With Hiroki behind the wheel, we have a stable base for the races in Japan and Macau – and we should be able to get the same even in Shanghai,” Karlsson added.
Yoshimoto won’t race for the team at Shanghai due to a clash of events in Japan – the team will be present with another driver for the penultimate event of the season.
For the last two seasons, the 33 year old has competed in the WTCC Race of Japan at Suzuka at the wheel of a SEAT Leon and his first run in the Chevrolet Cruze will come during Fridays’ test session.
The 2013 campaign has seen him racing in the Super Taikyu Series and the Super GT series. He is currently the Championship leader in the Super Taikyu Championship which supports the World Touring Car Championship at Suzuka.
“I am extremely pleased to have been given this opportunity by NIKA Racing, and to get to the start of the WTCC races at Suzuka for the third year in a row,” said the former Super Aguri Formula One test driver.
“I’ve been working on a solution in the WTCC for quite a long time, and it’s very motivating to represent a team that repeatedly fails to deliver more than what actually is reasonable to expect.
“There is a fascination for such efforts in Japan, and I cannot wait to drive Chevrolet car for the first time. I know I’m facing a tough task, but I feel ready – and I will give absolutely everything I have both this weekend and in Macau!” Yoshimoto concluded.