The Italian Driver Eager To Devote More Time To His Personal Life After A Long And Successful Career In Touring Car Racing

Touring car star and Chevrolet WTCC driver Nicola Larini today announced that he will retire from WTCC racing at the end of this season, after the championship’s two last races in Macau on Sunday.

Explaining his decision, the 45-year old Italian driver commented that having spent 20 seasons at the highest level in touring car racing, he intends to devote more time to his personal life and other interests. He will not quit racing, his lifelong passion, but wishes not be involved anymore in professional projects as demanding as the WTCC.

After starting his career with single-seaters, spending ten years in Formula 1 and fulfilling the dream of any Italian racer to be a Grand Prix driver for Ferrari, Nicola has become a touring car legend, clinching the DTM (1993) and ISC (1992) titles and no less than 48 race wins in major international touring car series.

A Chevrolet driver since the very launch of the WTCC programme in 2005, Nicola has been a valuable asset for the team, contributing his talent and experience over these five years and playing a significant role in developing the cars and building up a successful team. He has brought home 14 podium finishes, including his fantastic victory this year in Marrakech, without forgetting his success in the Bologna Motor Show exhibition races in 2007-08.