Photo: Super TC 2000 Media

Néstor Girolami on his WTCC debut: ”Best opportunity of my career”

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Reigning Super TC 2000 champion Néstor Girolami is going to make his FIA World Touring Car Championship debut for Honda Racing team Sweden at the Slovakiaring, a career move he ranks highly.
”It’s definitely the best opportunity I have had in my career,” said Girolami.

The Argentinian’s learning curve is going to be steep in his debut where his main goal is to finish the races.

”The first step must be to finish the races. We will make a test before the race but everything will still be very new: new car, new team and new track. I really know nothing so I need some time to get comfortable in the car and learn all the different things about racing in the WTCC,” said Girolami.

Fellow Argentinian José María ”Pechito” López has made a strong impression on the WTCC, claiming the title on his first year in the championship with Citroën. And the two have had strong history racing against each other in Argentina.

“Pechito is a very good driver, I have beaten him before and he has beaten me. In 2012 he took the title by six points in the last race, such a small difference after a long year. He is the reference now in the WTCC and has won everything. It would be amazing if I could achieve what he has done but I’m just at the start of my WTCC career and there is a long way to go,” said Girolami.

Girolami tested for Lada earlier this year and the Argentinian is aiming for a full-season factory drive in the 2016 WTCC.

“It was amazing to experience the WTCC because I flew to Hungary early to watch the race, which took place a few days before the test. I must say the Lada was very good to drive and I appreciated the chance I had with the team. [To continue racing in the WTCC] is the objective and I really hope it can be possible. For now I must focus on learning as much as I can in the two races and the Super TC 2000 championship in Argentina of course,” said Girolami.

The 26-year-old is going to complete his second WTCC race in Portugal and replaces Rickard Rydell in the two WTCC races at Honda Racing team Sweden.