Ex-F1 driver Morbidelli joins Alfa Romeo WTCR line-up
Ex-Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli will race a second Alfa Romeo Giulietta alongside Fabrizio Giovanardi in the inaugural WTCR season.
Photo by: TCR media
Morbidelli started 70 grands prix and scored one podium between 1990 and '97, but is an established touring car veteran having spent the past two decades in tin-top categories.
The Italian won three Superstars Italia titles in a row from 2007-09 as well as the International title in the last of those years, and repeated the Italia/International double in what proved to be the series' final year in '13.
He then moved to the WTCC, winning one race and finishing ninth overall in a Munnich Motorsport Chevrolet Cruze, and has spent the past three seasons racing in the TCR International Series.
Morbidelli tested a Romeo Ferraris-built Giulietta alongside Giovanardi - who was announced on Monday as the Team Mulsanne-badged squad's first driver - and 2017 WTCC driver Kevin Gleason at Monza earlier this month.
The 50-year-old has now been confirmed as the team's second driver for 2018.
Morbidelli, who previously drove Alfa machinery in the WTCC in 2006, said: “I am happy and honoured to be back at the top level of world's touring car racing, and to do it with an Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris, sporting the logo of such a prestigious brand.
"It will be a championship with many great teams and drivers, and this makes the challenge even more exciting. I wish to thank Team Mulsanne for their trust and for giving me this great opportunity."
2018 WTCR grid so far:
Team | Drivers |
---|---|
Comtoyou Racing (Audi) |
Aurelien Panis Denis Dupont Frederic Vervisch Nathanael Berthon |
WRT (Audi) |
Gordon Shedden Jean-Karl Vernay |
BRC Racing (Hyundai) |
Norbert Michelisz Gabriele Tarquini |
Sebastien Loeb Racing (VW) |
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 |
Campos Racing (SEAT) |
Pepe Oriola John Filippi |
DG Sport Competition (Peugeot) |
Aurelien Comte Mat'o Homola |
Romeo Fеrraris (Alfa Romeo) |
Fabrizio Giovanardi Gianni Morbidelli |
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments