Photo: Team Mulsanne

Luca Filippi to make WTCR debut at Zolder

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Luca Filippi will make his debut in the World Touring Car Cup this weekend at Zolder after securing a seat with Team Mulsanne ahead of the delayed season opener.

The 35-year-old will partner Jean-Karl Vernay in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR being entered by the Italian outfit, with Filippi running as a wildcard given that his registration wasn’t lodged before the deadline passed on 14 August.

Having previously raced in a wide range of different single-seater series, including GP2 and IndyCar, Filippi moved into touring cars last season when he joined the BRC Racing team in TCR Europe; finishing 16th in the standings with a best finish of second at the Red Bull Ring.

“I am very happy to be at the kick-off of the FIA WTCR in this 2020 season,” he said. “It has been possible thanks to the support of great companies that I have the honour to represent and that I want to repay with my greatest determination and the best possible results in what is the top and most competitive touring car series.

“My first season with a front-wheel-drive car has left me very good sensations and I am sure that the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR by Romeo Ferraris will be among the front-runners.”

Operations manager Michela Cerruti said she was confident that Filippi would perform strongly on track during the season ahead.

“We gladly welcome Luca Filippi to the family,” she said. “I am happy to have an Italian driver at the wheel of our car in the FIA WTCR, and I am delighted that it will be Luca, whose career I have always been following with interest.

“To have two drivers with great experience and specific touring car know-how will be an added value in a championship with such a compressed calendar and which will require reactivity and flexibility. Luckily, we can benefit from the great support of the FIA WTCR promoter, Eurosport Events .”