New manufacturer for 2007

More plans for the 2007 WTCC season have been revealed. WTCC-boss Marcello Lotti told Autosport that they have a new Japanese manufacturer on the way to enter the series next year. It is more than likely that it will be Honda.

Honda has been semi-official in ETCC and WTCC since a couple of years back, in the form of JAS Engineering. JAS used to be the official works team for Honda before they withdrew at the end of the Super Touring-days. Honda Racing Development president Yasuhiro Wada was present at the previous WTCC round at Brands Hatch, watching over the privateer Honda Accords.

“I feel good to say that we’re going to have a Japanese manufacturer in the championship,” Lotti told Autosport.

“I know that JAS has worked well with Honda. I know that as engineering partner really in Europe to develop cars for a customer Honda project and I know they are working on a new [Super 2000] rally project for 2008 and they are going to Japan to do the study for these new rules for rally.

“We have had a good response to our TV figures and our attendance and from the technical side and the Super 2000 regulations. So we hope to see one or two manufacturers more next year.”