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Fabrizio Giovanardi to race Alfa Romeo in WTCR 2018

Multiple touring car champion Fabrizio Giovanardi will race in the inaugural World Touring Car Cup season at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Giovanardi won two British Touring Car Championship titles for the factory Triple Eight Racing Vauxhall squad in 2007 and '08, and at the start of the century claimed a pair of championships in the European Touring Car Championship that was a precursor to the reformed world championship.

The Italian claimed those honours at the wheel of an Alfa 156, and will drive for the brand again in the new WTCR world cup this season in a Romeo Ferraris-built Giulietta.

Giovanardi tested for the Team Mulsanne operation, which will run a pair of Alfas, at Monza earlier this month alongside Gianni Morbidelli and 2017 WTCC driver Kevin Gleason.

"I wish to thank everybody at Romeo Ferraris who have made possible the 2018 season," said Giovanardi, who last contested a full season of touring car racing for Motorbase in the BTCC in 2014.

"I had the pleasure of driving the car very recently, and I was very impressed.

"For me, it will be a comeback on the world stage after a few years out of racing, but my passion and hunger for victory are intact.

"At Monza, I had the chance to start a journey that hopefully will bring a lot of satisfaction for those involved in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris project."

Giovanardi's team-mate for the 2018 season is yet to be announced.

2018 WTCR line-up so far
Comtoyou Audi: Denis Dupont, Aurelien Panis, Frederic Vervisch, Nathaneal Berthon
BRC Racing Hyundai: Norbert Michelisz, Gabriele Tarquini
Sebastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen: Rob Huff, Mehdi Bennani
Yvan Muller Racing Hyundai: Yvan Muller, Thed Bjork
Boutsen Ginion Honda: Tiago Monteiro, Tom Coronel
Munnich Motorsport Honda: Esteban Guerrieri, Yann Ehrlacher
WRT Audi: Jean-Karl Vernay, Gordon Shedden
Campos Racing SEAT: John Filippi, Pepe Oriola
DG Sport Peugeot: Aurelien Comte, Mato Homola
Romeo Ferraris Alfa Romeo: Fabrizio Giovanardi

Zdroj: autosport.com