Italian World Touring Car Championship veteran Stefano D’Aste, who took his first two WTCC wins in 2012, is to race a BMW 320 TC for his own new team, PB Motorsport, in 2013.
D’Aste, 37, has competed in every season of the WTCC since its reformation in 2005, starting 153 races and scoring two wins and five podiums. For the past two seasons the charismatic Italian has raced for the German Wiecher-Sport team, who announced their return to the WTCC a couple of weeks ago. He also raced for Wiechers-Sport in 2007 and 2009, and raced for the Italian Proteam Racing in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
“I am happy with the decision to race with my own team,” explained D’Aste, who also owns a Lotus dealership. “We have obviously a lot to learn, which is why we prefer to run only one car this year. In these days I am putting the team together: hiring the staff, buying the equipments. We are incredibly motivated for this new challenge and this will help us to be ready in time for the first event that is only three weeks away.”
The team will officially be launched at the Franciacorta circuit near Brescia on March 9th.