The N.technology team will not take part in the FIA World Touring Car Championship's season-opener in Curitiba this weekend.

The Italian team was due to take part in their maiden race with the Honda Accord Euro R Super 2000 car driven by the Briton James Thompson who was third in the 2007 FIA WTCC.

However, in spite of all the efforts done to be ready in time, the team have eventually decided to skip Curitiba and begin their season later on, in order to focus on the Japanese car's technical development.

N.technology's decision means that 21 cars wil compete in the championship's first event of the year.

Eurosport