Hugo Valente heads list of WTCC Shanghai newcomers
French SEAT Leon Supercopa points leader Hugo Valente heads a list of World Touring Car Championship newcomers entered for the forthcoming meeting at Shanghai on November 4
The 20-year-old Parisian will take the wheel of the SUNRED Leon 1.6L turbo vacated by Hiroki Yoshimoto after Suzuka.
"I'm delighted to be able to race in the WTCC at Shanghai and I thank SUNRED for giving me this opportunity," Valente said ahead of his WTCC debut.
"It will be an exciting and very tough challenge and I want to use this opportunity to evaluate my chances of joining the world championship next year."
After graduating from karting into Formula Renault, Valente took a sabbatical from racing in 2011.
The title deciding final of the French SEAT Leon Supercopa takes place at Le Castellet this weekend.
Team Engstler meanwhile has announced 'Alex' Liu Lic Ka will drive its normally aspirated BMW 320si in China. The 320si was raced by Masaki Kano at Suzuka last weekend.
Liu Lic Ka is a race winner in the Macau and Asian Touring Car Championships, and has one WTCC start to his name at Macau in 2009.
Double Macau Touring Car champion Kelvin Leong Ian Veng will drive a JAS-built Honda Accord Euro R car, run by the Song Veng Racing Team. The 31-year-old is leading this year's Macau Touring Car Series.
Finally, Look Fong Racing has entered this year's dominant Hong Kong Touring Car Champion Eric Kwong Hoi Fung for the Chinese meeting. Kwong has taken five Super 2000 victories from this year's eight rounds.
The 30-year-old, who has previously enjoyed success in Chinese one-make GT championships, will drive a normally aspirated Chevrolet Cruze.
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