Touring Car Legends
was to include European heroes too, Fabrizio Giovanardi would undoubtedly feature most prominently. Before his first stint in the BTCC from 2006, he had three European Touring Car titles to his name and a pair of Italian championships also.
Menu vs. Giovanardi sounds great
Now, after winning the BTCC in 2007 and 2008, Giovanardi will return to the BTCC for the 2014 season. He will be part of the Airwaves Racing/Motorbase Performance team in a Focus ST; the engine is a Mountune unit, of course.
Of his return, Giovanardi said: "I am really looking forward to coming back to this special championship. For the last four years I have done long distance racing and for me, it's quite boring! I want to come here and try to win another championship; I need to win the third one!"
It means the 2014 BTCC could have seven former champions in its ranks. Along with the comebacks of Giovanardi and Alain Menu, we will also see Matt Neal, Jason Plato, Gordon Shedden and Andrew Jordan racing. Colin Turkington's participation looks likely but is unconfirmed at present.
Dave Bartrum is team principal of Airwaves Racing and is predictably fairly chuffed at the appointment: "This is a very important year for Airwaves Racing. This is going to be the one when we really do underline the product we've built here at Motorbase Performance and Fabrizio is the man to show you how it should go".
So the 2014 season is shaping up to be a cracker. Loads of former champions, the return of the estate and PH's involvement. We hope to bring you more on the latter soon. The BTCC season starts at Brands Hatch on 29/30 March.
