Nika Racing have revealed that they will not be present at the season opening round of the World Touring Car Championship in France this weekend, with the team also initiating a switch from Honda to Chevrolet.
The Swedish team had originally revealed plans to continue with a Honda Civic WTCC car in this year’s championship, but the outfit have now decided to switch to RML-built Chevrolet machinery.
The team released a statement stating the reasons behind the switch.
“We are very pleased to announce big and exciting news for Nika International. We have now changed the car brand, from Honda to Chevrolet. From race two in 2016, we will be back again at Chevrolet, RML a brand that we already have excellent experience with and won great victories.
“The car change was planned for 2017 but thanks to a very attractive offer, we decided to make this change already this year. By implementing this shift now, we move closer to our planned development of the team in other classes and series in which GM [General Motors] has an interest.
“We believe that Nika International together with former partner GM could again form an active partnership where the team could develop in many directions, both nationally as well as internationally.
“The change in brand is also related to our long-term interests in our new driver John Bryant-Meisner, who earlier in the winter joined the team.
“Due to the massive workload lately mainly caused by the car switch, we still have some final preparations to do both with the car as well as the driver. Therefore, we have decided not to race in France this coming weekend.
“Accordingly to our schedule, we are going to be ready and fully prepared, and will make our WTCC debut 2016 in race two in Slovakia with a new car and a new driver.”