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Touring car legend Giovanardi to race Alfa Romeo in WTCR

One of the most successful touring car drivers in history will bring his considerable skill and experience to the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO in 2018.

Fabrizio Giovanardi, a winner or champion in almost every touring car series he's contested, will drive an Alfa Romeo Giuletta TCR by Romeo Ferraris for Team Mulsanne, a move that will allow the 51-year-old to race one of the famous Italian machines for the first time at FIA level since the World Touring Car Championship in 2005.

"I wish to thank everybody at Romeo Ferraris who have made possible the 2018 season," said Giovanardi. "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."

A winner in karting, Formula 3 and Formula 3000, Giovanardi made a permanent switch to touring car racing in 1992 and was soon winning titles - and driving Alfa Romeos - with success in his homeland, Germany, Spain and Europe-wide. Winner of the reborn European Touring Car Championship in 2002, Giovanardi won races in the WTCC, was twice British champion and also raced in the Argentine TC2000 series and Aussie V8s before his return in Italian TCR in 2017.

Michela Cerruti, Romeo Ferraris' Operations Manager said: "To have Fabrizio with us in such an important venture is a crucial element of our programme. Racing at the highest level in 2018 represents a big step forward for our organisation and for Team Mulsanne, who will be competing against many prestigious brands and teams. We have progressed with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris, and the positive feedback received from Fabrizio at the test in Monza has made possible what at the beginning was only a dream. Still, we do not live in Wonderland and we know we'll have to perform at 100 per cent to be competitive in such a top series as WTCR."

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCR promoter, said: "Team Mulsanne's entry not only brings a seventh customer racing brand to the grid, in Fabrizio Giovanardi we welcome a touring car legend whose vast experience will certainly be a strong asset to the team as it develops the car and brings back that iconic touring car brand to where it belongs: the top."

Zdroj: fiawtcr.com