Nicola Baldan to continue TCR Italy programme with M1RA

Nicola Baldan will return to action in the TCR Italy Championship this weekend after agreeing a deal with the M1RA team.

Baldan slipped to fourth in the championship standings having been forced to sit out both races at Imola in late July after being caught up in a dramatic accident during qualifying for the fifth meeting of the year.

The defending champion was left nursing a broken collarbone after contact from Eric Scalvani saw Baldan’s Pit Lane Competizioni-run Hyundai i30 N TCR tipped into a roll.

Having spent the past month recovering, Baldan has now been cleared to return to competition and will do so with the M1RA squad as it adds TCR Italy to its existing programme.

“After the crash in Imola I thought my season was over,” Baldan said. “My only goal was to fix my health. I hurt myself and have no problem to say I was scared. The following month was the worst for me: the surgery, the rehabilitation and so many thoughts in my mind.

“Then M1RA and his team manager Dávid Bári offered help to finish the season. It was impossible to say no, I have strongly wanted to come back as soon as possible!”