Former Formula One driver Shinji Nakano, who also raced in the WEC in 2012 and 2013, will join the Manor squad, racing in the LMP2 alongside Tor Graves and Alex Lynn in the no45 Oreca 05-Nissan.

“Yes it has been three years since I raced in WEC and it is very nice to return so big thanks to Manor,” said Shinji Nakano. “LMP2 seems to have progressed a lot since I have been away. Manor is a very good team and with Alex (Lynn) and Tor (Graves) I think we will have a really good team. We have not tested together so it will take some time to get in the rhythm but we all have enough experience in racing to make it all work well.”

 “Of course I know the Fuji Speedway very well but in fact the new track I only race here four times. I have had some very good races here and actually I have lost count of the amount of times I have been here and competing in various stages of my career.”

Nakano is hopeful of fitting in WEC races around a busy media career he has developed for himself.

“I would love to do more races and we will see what happens,” he said. “At the moment I am really busy with commentaries I do for various championships. If I can then I will definitely try to be here on a more permanent basis.”