Tielemans joins Alfa Romeo in 2007
N.Technology Alfa Romeo confirmed today that Olivier Tielemans will be their second driver for their FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) team. Newcomer Tielemans will race alongside two-times British Touring Car Champion, James Thompson for the full 2007 season.
The 22-year-old from Holland has experience in single-seaters and touring cars with drives in DTM, Megane Eurocup and Formula 3000 under his belt amongst others.
“This is the best drive I have ever been offered so it’s fair to say that I am really happy,” said Tielemans. “DTM is the highest I have ever competed in before this so I hope to use my experience from there to do well in my new team. N.Technology are really good in WTCC and so is James Thompson so I hope to learn from them.
“The other really exciting thing for me is that Holland is hosting the second round of the Championship. I live close to the Zandvoort circuit and have raced there many times so I hope I can help the team with my knowledge of the track and produce a good result for them.”
A Zandvoort expert, Tielemans has raced over 30 times at the track, finishing 5th in the 2003 Benelux Championship Formula Renault 2000. The Dutchman will begin his WTCC career at Curitiba, Brazil on 10 March 2007.
“In signing James, we have a great driver in the team,” said N.Technology Team Principal, Mauro Sipsz. “It has always been my ambition to partner him with a worthy, experienced driver and we have found that in Olivier. I look forward to continuing N.Technology’s success story with both of them.”
The FIA World Touring Car Championship is entering its third year after evolving from the European Touring Car Championship in 2005. Before that, N.Technology won seven European titles and has also had great success in Rally and Sports Car Championships.
