JAS confirm WTCC programme.

After the recent unveiling of the new Honda Accord Super 2000, JAS Motorsport has confirmed that it will return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2006.

With backing from shock absorber brand Monroe, the team will compete in the Yokohama Independents Trophy with a single car for 30-year-old Belgian driver Pierre-Yves Corthals - who joined last seasons driver Roberto Colciago for a recent test at Varano.

"I'm delighted to be driving in the WTCC as part of the JAS Motorsport team," said Corthals. "Although modern Super 2000 cars are new to me, I'm confident that my extensive experience with front wheel drive cars will be a great advantage.

"The combination of Roberto's advice with my driving and a great team of mechanics and engineers helped me approach Roberto's best lap by two tenths."

The team is still considering entering a second car in the WTCC this season with team principal Alessandro Mariani confirming that negotiations are currently underway in regard to the second seat.

Sponsors Monroe come to the WTCC after a number of seasons involved in NASCAR and Alex Gelbcke, vice president for aftermarket in Europe for parent company Tenneco, said the deal was ideal for both parties.

"We believe the WTCC is an excellent communication tool for both our Monroe brand and our suspension technologies," he said. "We also plan to take advantage of this programme by looking at opportunities to engineer specific products for car tuning and motor sport, and exploit the broad experience that JAS Motorsport has built in ten years of racing at a highly professional level."