Nika Racing has confirmed that it will not be present for this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship races in Slovakia, citing funding issues relating to driver John Bryant-Meisner.
Nika had already missed the season opening round in France, and recently announced a last-minute switch from Honda machinery to Chevrolet RML equipment.
The announcement means that Nika’s run of absences in the WTCC now extends to six consecutive meetings.
A statement from the team reads:
“The team has been working very hard to get all structures in place for the 2016 WTCC season and now the team is ready to race. The various matters around our late car shift, logistics, marketing, sponsors, and personnel have now been sorted out to our satisfactory.
“The only part we do not control is our driver´s financing partners and their engagement in making this happen as discussed. The main reason for the delays is the complexity of the funding partners’ financial setup and structure. In this case, we can only watch their progress from the side-line and where possible, support them in the process.
“Therefore, we are forced to notify our sponsors, fans and others that we have to wait for the financial solution to get in place. When this is a fact, and confirmed, we are more than ready to start racing again. Our belief in John and his partners are still at the highest level and in the end we believe that this will be a flourishing partnership.
“Nothing or nobody can make us rush our decision when to make our entry in the 2016 WTCC series other than ourselves. We are in this for long-term and will not make any hasty moves. We are longing to be a part of the fantastic WTCC grid again, but these last details must be solved first.
“However, by today, Thursday, all parties involved in the final issue will meet in Stockholm and hopefully put the last pieces in this complex puzzle together. More news will follow shortly of our progress.
“Finally, we will also like to thank WTCC our sponsors, vendors and fans for their continued support and hopefully, we will soon start contributing to the outstanding WTCC show again.”