Italy-based ROAL Motorsport will come back to the FIA WTCC, fielding one BMW 320 TC car powered by the new 1.6-litre turbo engine for Dutch driver Tom Coronel.
The team directed by Roberto Ravaglia took part in the world championship between 2005 and 2009, claiming seven race wins for BMW, while Coronel achieved one victory and five other podium results, always at the wheel of SEAT cars. In 2010 he obtained his best result ever in the Drivers’ Championship, finishing in eighth position.
"The technical package developed by BMW Motorsport has certainly a potential and I believe it will allow customer teams to aim for high level results. Furthermore, a fast and well experienced driver such as Tom Coronel will contribute to enhance the team’s performance," team principal Roberto Ravaglia commented.
Tom Coronel - 41 years old who had raced BMW cars in the European and Dutch Touring Car championships between 2001 and 2004 - echoed: "I have the feeling that I won the Italian lottery and hit the jackpot! It is so great to work with the ROAL Motorsport team and especially with Roberto Ravaglia. I even raced with him in the early nineties. This is a race winning team!"