Honda adds fourth car for Michigami at home WTCC race at Motegi

Michigami is a stalwart in Super GT, having first raced in the series in 1995, but has not competed in the Japanese national championship since 2014 - the same year that he started his own Drago Corse team, which has run Oliver Turvey and Hideki Mutoh since 2015.

The Japanese, who has been part of the Honda Racing stable since 1998, tested the JAS Motorsport-run Honda Civic at Barcelona last week and will make his WTCC debut on home soil at Motegi - owned by Honda - alongside the manufacturer's regular drivers Rob Huff, Tiago Monteiro and Norbert Michelisz.

"I had a chance to test the Civic WTCC at Barcelona last week and was hoping for an opportunity to race it, so I'm very excited that I'll be able to do this so soon," said Michigami.

"I was involved in the development of the Civic Type R, which was released last year, and had been watching the Civic WTCC closely as well.

"I will be racing with my heart and soul at Motegi and putting all my experience to best use.

"Honda and JAS Motorsport have given me a wonderful opportunity; the car felt consistently fast in Spain and I'll definitely be well-prepared for the races in Japan."

Michigami becomes the second driver in as many days to announce a one-off drive in the WTCC after long-time single-seater ace Esteban Guerrieri was announced as the driver of a second Campos Racing Chevrolet Cruze for the Argentinian round of the championship on Wednesday.