Joao Paulo Lima de Oliveira will join SUNRED Engineering for the next World Touring Car Championship event in Okayama.

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The 28-year-old Brazilian is a favourite of Japanese motorsport fans, being a regular in the local championships since 2004.

Lima de Oliveira boasts an outstanding racing CV and vast international experience.

After claiming the South American Formula 3 title in the Scholarship class at the age of 18, he moved to Europe to win the German F3 championship in 2003.

The year after he settled in Japan, where he collected another F3 title in 2005.

From 2006 he is taking part in both the Japanese Super GT and Formula Nippon championships, establishing himself as one of the fastest and consistent drivers.

He claimed Super GT race wins sharing the wheel of Nissan Z and GT-R cars with Seiji Ara. The two of them will find themselves on opposite sides in the WTCC, as Ara will drive a Wiechers-Sport BMW.