Photo: WTCC Media

Yukinori Taniguchi joins Campos at Shanghai

Japanese driver Yukinori Taniguchi will be back at the next round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship at Shanghai, in a last minute deal to drive the third SEAT León of Campos Racing.

Taniguchi was convinced to make a return to the WTCC after over a year and a half away by Wiechers-Sport for his home race in Suzuka, filling in for Fredy Barth, who had other commitments.

With two second place finishes in the Eurosport Asia Trophy classification in Suzuka, Taniguchi currently leads the standings ahead of Masaki Kano and Takuya Izawa.

Neither Kano or Izawa are due back for both of the final two rounds however, with Jerónimo Badaraco the highest placed driver who is committed for all three of the Asian rounds, competing in a normally aspirated Chevrolet Cruze.

Taniguchi has secured a drive with the Spanish Campos Racing team, driving their third car in China in order to defend his lead of the new-for-2013 category, but will need to find another birth for Macau if he is continue the challenge, as the SEAT he’ll drive in Shanghai will be taken over by Macanese stalwart André Couto at the season finale.