Sport   Motorsport   Touring Cars

Fabrizio Giovanardi is the latest champion to return!

By MJP Media | 6 February 2014

In a move which firmly confirms the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as being THE place to race in 2014, former champion Fabrizio Giovanardi makes a welcome return with Airwaves Racing.

Fabrizio Giovanardi joins Airwaves Racing for the 2014 BTCC season

With both the World Touring Car Championship and DTM moving their racing to chase the emerging markets, more international world class drivers and sponsors recognise the brilliance that is the BTCC. Airwaves Racing has ignited its most ambitious Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship programme to date by announcing multiple touring car champion and BTCC legend Fabrizio Giovanardi as the Motorbase Performance-run squad's new signing for the 2014 season.

Team Principal David Bartrum chose to officially unveil the news during a radio interview, leaving fans stunned and delighted. "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." said Bartrum. "I tried to get Fabrizio on board a couple of years ago and this year I decided just before Christmas that was the right way to try and go. It was something that Airwaves set out in their criteria - they wanted us to up our game and I was very happy to meet it."

Fabrizio last lifted the BTCC trophy in 2008

Bartrum continued "A lot of work has gone into the car over the winter. I'm really pleased with what the team has done, they've worked very hard. As I've said before, you need to take a step back and look sometimes - that's what we've done and now we're hoping to get the reward. We've always been proud of our driver line-up and no more this year than last year, but this year it's got a little Italian spice to it that might take the team forward that bit more."

With back to back 2007 and 2008 championship titles to his name, Giovanardi has an impressive BTCC pedigree. With 122 appearances, 41 podiums and 24 race wins already under his belt, the twice crowned BTCC champion was last seen in the championship in the 2010 season where he celebrated two race wins and two podiums during the opening weekend at Thruxton.

Giovanardi in his 2008 championship winning Vauxhall

Giovanardi's union with the Airwaves Racing team has been a long time in the making, with behind the scenes talks with the Motorbase Performance Team Principal going as far back as 2010. Giovanardi said "When I stopped racing with Triple Eight I had a chat with David Bartrum and we tried to find a deal, but there wasn't the condition to do that, so now after four years, David has given me the technical effort to win the championship."

"I need to be fighting for championships and this is the best place to find that, so I'm really happy to be back. Obviously, I have to respect the other guys out there but I want to come here and try to win another championship. I need to win the third one! In 2008 and 2009 I had a big battle with this team and they were one of the teams to beat then. After four years I believe they've got good experience, they've grown up and they are right at this time to give me the winning chance." added Giovanardi. "These are passionate guys, it's a small team but with people that work well together. Good people and the right people make the right target and I believe straight away that we can be one of the teams fighting for the championship."

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media