Official FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) tyre supplier, Yokohama ADVAN will race on home soil next year providing the provisional 2008 calendar unveiled this week in London is finalised.

The Japanese company will provide its ADVAN race tyre to the WTCC at two new rounds according to next year’s calendar, one of which is Japan’s Okayama International Circuit.

Situated approximately 200km north-east of Hiroshima, the 3.703km track hosted the F1 Pacific Grand Prix in 1994 and 1995 and will be Japan’s first circuit to hold a WTCC round.

“The addition of a Japanese date to the FIA WTCC is great news,” said Yokohama Europe Motorsport Manager Matthijs Mathlener. “As a Japanese manufacturer, to be given the chance to show our product’s quality and performance in front of our own countrymen is a true honour.

The provisional calendar was revealed at the official WTCC press conference ahead of this weekend’s Brands Hatch rounds, which will see reigning champion Andy Priaulx along with fellow British drivers James Thompson and Robert Huff vying for home support. 

“Japan has a huge touring car following and is a very important market for manufacturers,” said Priaulx who drives for BMW Team UK. “I think it’s a great addition to the calendar and look forward to going there for the first time next year.”

Racing at Brands Hatch this weekend will provide a more immediate challenge for the double world champion. The British track features a number of blind corners along with small run-off areas ready to penalise any driver making a mistake.

Grip from the Yokohama ADVANs will be a paramount requirement as Yokohama’s Technical Consultant, Ian Beveridge explains: “Brands Hatch’s layout means that drivers can’t go off-track and get away with it as easily as other more recent circuits. The ADVANs are extremely consistent in the level of grip they deliver though so teams and drivers alike will know how far they can push their cars in each corner without risking a spin or going off.” 

Yokohama ADVAN will also be supplying WTCC partner series International Formula Master with control tyres this weekend in the UK.

2008 FIA WTCC PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

2 March Curitiba Brazil6 April TBA Mexico - NEW18 May Valencia Spain1 June Pau France15 June Brno Czech Republic6 July Estoril Portugal - NEW27 July Anderstorp Sweden31 August Oschersleben Germany21 September Brands Hatch UK5 October Monza Italy26 Oct / 2 Nov Okayama Japan - NEW16 November Macau China