Japanese fans will enjoy live coverage of World Touring Car races
Qualifying and WTCC MAC3 action screened during race build-up
Honda driver Michigami: “J SPORTS is the channel for motorsport in Japan”
The popularity of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Japan will continue to rise in 2017 following confirmation of a live television agreement between WTCC promoter Eurosport Events and J SPORTS.
J SPORTS will broadcast live coverage of WTCC races this season plus highlights from Qualifying and the WTCC MAC3 team time trial in the build-up to the race action across its four branded channels and website.
The new agreements follow last month’s announcement by Honda of its three-car factory line-up in the WTCC, which includes Japanese racer Ryo Michigami, the first driver from the country to secure a season-long World Touring Car Championship works deal.
Michigami said: “J SPORTS is the channel for motorsport in Japan because they show every SUPER GT race live. I spent a long time racing in those series and J SPORTS did a very good job. I’m sure they’ll do the same for the WTCC and I hope that it will help the Japanese motorsport fans to become more familiar and passionate about the WTCC.”
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCC promoter, added: “The WTCC and Japan are intrinsically linked and this exciting agreement with J SPORTS is another fine example of this long-standing collaboration. With Honda extending its commitment to the WTCC and backing it up by entering a Japanese driver for a full campaign, the partnership with J SPORTS couldn’t have come at a better time. We hope the live coverage will not only appeal to motorsport fans in Japan but hopefully also attract new audiences.”
Marrakech in Morocco hosts the opening round of this year’s WTCC from 7-9 April. WTCC Race of Japan takes place at Twin Ring Motegi north of Tokyo from 27-29 October with a highlights package aired on TV Osaka under a long-standing partnership.
More information about J SPORTS and its live coverage of the WTCC can be found by visiting its new website: http://www.jsports.
