Merhi's usual seat alongside Richard Bradley and Matt Rao in the #44 Manor Oreca 05-Nissan will be occupied by Alex Lynn, who moves across from the sister #45 car after making his maiden WEC appearance last weekend at Fuji.

The #45 car will be driven by Beche - making his first outing in the series since he raced for Rebellion at the Nurburgring - team regular Tor Graves and Roberto Gonzalez, brother of RGR Sport by Morand owner-driver Ricardo.

Elsewhere on the Shanghai entry list, Yutaka Yamagishi's seat in the Larbre Corvette has been taken by French veteran Romain Brandela, who joins Pierre Ragues and Ricky Taylor in the #50 machine.

Nick Leventis meanwhile returns to the #42 Strakka Gibson line-up with Jonny Kane and Lewis Williamson, having sat out Fuji due to a lung infection.