Talented Swiss driver Kris Richard will make his FIA World Touring Car Championship debut at FIA WTCC Race of Japan this weekend, his prize from Eurosport Events for winning the FIA European Touring Car Cup in 2016.

Richard claimed the ETCC Super 2000 crown in a final-round decider at Imola last season at the wheel of a Rikli Motorsport Honda Civic. He had been offered his prize drive at WTCC OSCARO Race of Italy in April of this year, only for a clashing commitment to rule out his participation.

Since then, Eurosport Events has been working to secure an alternative opportunity for the 22-year-old and has agreed terms for Richard to drive the Campos Racing Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 normally campaigned by Esteban Guerrieri. An announcement regarding Guerrieri’s plans for the Twin Ring Motegi event will be announced shortly.

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCC promoter, said: “We are delighted to welcome another young talented driver to the WTCC in Kris Richard and we are also pleased his long overdue prize drive for winning the ETCC title in 2016 has come to fruition after a clash of events meant this had not been possible until now.”

Kris Richard, who has been racing successfully in TCR Germany this season, said: “I don’t know the car, the team, the track, the WTCC or anything but these are plus points for me because I have no pressure. I just go there to do the best I can out of the situation, completely free in the mind. I am really excited and really looking forward.”