Photo: WTCC Media

Nicola Larini joins Fabrizio Giovanardi at Petri Corse

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49-year-old Italian Nicola Larini will join former Alfa Romeo Euro STC & ETCC team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi at Petri Corse. The former Formula 1 driver, who made an appearance in the Superstars Series back in 2010 at the wheel of a Mercedes C63 AMG, will drive the Porsche Panamera S for the first time this Wednesday.

“It’s going to be an interesting experience in the Superstars Series”, said Larini. “I will get behind the wheel of the Porsche on Wednesday just to get in touch with the car. I was stunned when I joined the championship for a one-off appearance in Vallelunga in 2010 and the series has grown stronger and stronger since. I’m focused on Zolder now, a track which is very technical and will be hard on the tyres. I think Audi will be the ones to beat.”

Larini took part in 75 Grands Prix, including a podium for Ferrari during the tragic San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. The Tuscany-based driver won the Italian Super Touring Championship in 1992 for Alfa Romeo, and clinched the DTM title the following year also with the Italian manufacturer, and drove in the European Super Touring Championship and European Touring Car Championship for Alfa Romeo up until 2004, often paired with Giovanardi at the team.

More recently, Larini was part of the Chevrolet WTCC project from 2005 to 2009. The Italian went on to compete in GTs, claiming a class win at the Nurburgring 24 hours in a Ferrari P4/5, also shared with Giovanardi.

Giovanardi is happy with the team’s choice:
“It’s a pleasure to race again with Nicola”, said Giovanardi. “We won the Nurburgring 24 Hours last year and we’re working flat out to be competitive in the Superstars as well, although we don’t have much time to test the car between the races. I don’t want to make predictions for Zolder, the track will decide.”

Larini is delighted to be reunited with his former team-mate as well, adding:
“I’m very happy to race again with Fabrizio, we’re close friends and I think we will be able to be competitive for an important brand such as Porsche.”

The Superstars Series will be back on track next week at Zolder, Belgium.