Toshihiro Arai, one of Japan’s most successful rally drivers ever, will make his racing debut in the World Touring Car Championship’s event at Suzuka, on October 23.
The 45-year old Arai will be at the wheel of a fourth Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T run by the Chevrolet-RML team, alongside regular drivers Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu. The team had already fielded a fourth car earlier this year, when Brazilian Stockcar star Carlos “Cacá” Bueno finished third and fourth in his home races at Curitiba.
During the latest twenty years Arai built himself a solid reputation as a competitive rallyman, always driving Subaru cars in the World Rally Championship. The peaks of his career were two FIA Production Car World Rally Championship titles in 2005 and 2007.
Arai was given the opportunity to test the WTCC Cruze last Thursday at Pembrey, UK. “I was extremely pleased with the test,” he said “The Cruze is pleasant to drive and very responsive, and the team extremely professional. I am delighted to have the opportunity to race my home WTCC event and to do it with Chevrolet. This will be a new experience for me, but the philosophy of WTCC and WRC Production Cars is the same and I hope I can adapt quickly. To debut in the WTCC with the Cruze and the reigning World Champion team is the best proposition one could dream of!”