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WTCC entry changes for Macau as Taniguchi moves, Monje steps down

There have been several late changes to the World Touring Car Championship line-up for the Macau finale, with Yukinori Taniguchi switching teams and Fernando Monje skipping the event

Taniguchi will move from Campos Racing to drive Nika Racing's Chevrolet Cruze in the last round of 2013.

Hiroki Yoshimoto had previously been scheduled to reclaim the Nika seat after Rickard Rydell's Shanghai appearance.

Taniguchi had only joined Campos for the Shanghai event, having competed for the Wiechers BMW squad one round earlier at Suzuka.

The 45-year-old will therefore become the first driver in series' history to compete for three different teams, and in three different cars, during the same season.

Taniguchi has a near-unassailable lead in the Eurosport Asia Trophy, and needs only to finish both races in Macau to beat Filipe de Souza to the inaugural title.

Campos regular Fernando Monje will meanwhile miss Macau, citing family reasons.

The 20-year-old, who won the S2000 class of last year's European Touring Car Cup, has had a difficult first season in the WTCC but scored his first points of the year at Suzuka.

He currently lies eighth in the Independents' standings.

"Above all we have learned a lot [in 2013]," Monje said.

"2014 will be the time to apply these teachings to go all out in the Independents' classification."

Although Monje will miss out, the entry list will be boosted as Macanese driver Eurico de Jesus will drive a Honda Accord run by the PAS Macau Racing team.

The 36-year-old competed in an ex-JAS Accord in Macau last year, taking a best result of 18th in the second race.

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