Team Mulsanne has confirmed that it will again run in the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) in 2019, fielding its Romeo Ferraris-built Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR cars for yet-to-be-named drivers.
The Italian outfit took part with two cars in the inaugural season in 2018, initially running touring car stalwarts Fabrizio Giovanardi and Gianni Morbidelli before ending the season with young guns Kevin Ceccon and Luigi Ferrara.
Ceccon memorably scored the car’s first WTCR pole position and victory in Japan, ending the season 14th overall in the drivers’ standings, despite only contesting 15 of the 30 races.
Team Mulsanne has been continuing the development of the car, with Ceccon one of four drivers who got behind the wheel at a test session at the Autodromo Vallelunga prior to Christmas.
“The 2018 season was busy and intense, but also rich in satisfaction,” said Remeo Ferraris Operations Manager Michela Cerruti. “We should have taken a moment to rest, but we have opted for continuing the work to present ourselves perfectly ready for the FIA WTCR 2019 challenge.
“Last winter, the priority was to prepare the customer cars that went to race and to win in America and China. This winter, on top of responding to the orders that have arrived from Japan and Australia, we have continued focusing on the FIA WTCR.
“We will shortly announce the drivers that Team Mulsanne will enter in the 2019 FIA WTCR and are anxious to see who our rivals will be. Interest for our Alfa Romeo Giulietta is rising also within TCR Europe, and we hope to define soon our programme for the continental series.”
Head of Eurosport Events François Ribeiro believes that the success enjoyed by the Italian team towards the end of 2018 will be an indication of what is in store in 2019.
“Team Mulsanne and Romeo Ferraris embarked on a big challenge when they entered the inaugural WTCR / OSCARO season with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR,” said Ribeiro.
“But every challenge they faced they overcame and their first win in Japan was a measure of the progress they had made but also an indicator of more success to come in season two, of that I have no doubt.
“We should also credit Michela Cerruti for the belief she showed in giving Kevin Ceccon his big break last season, and we very much hope he can be part of the team’s line-up again in 2019. He’s a great talent.”
The second WTCR season gets underway in Marrakech, Morocco from the 5 – 7 April 2019.