Luigi Ferrara will make his debut at Pure ETCR this weekend as the 42 Racing / Shadow driver is set to replace Oliver Webb in the Romeo Ferraris-M1RA team due to Webb schedule clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Luigi Ferrara will be making an early return to on-track competition this weekend as the 42 Racing / Shadow driver is set to make his Pure ETCR debut as a replacement driver for Oliver Webb in the Romeo Ferraris-M1RA team this weekend due to Webb’s schedule clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ferrara, who had taken part in a one-day test session at Varano to familiarize himself with the team’s Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR car, is scheduled to share his car with Romeo Ferraris’ regular driver Rodrigo Baptista at Hungaroring.
“I’m really happy to join Romeo Ferraris-M1RA for PURE ETCR Race HU,” said the 39-year old Italian in the official announcement. “I wish to thank Michela [Cerruti, Romeo Ferraris’ Team Principal] and Mario [Ferraris, Romeo Ferraris’ Technical Director] for this chance and I hope to reward their trust with great performances on track.”
Ferrara’s ETCR announcement meant that he would be set to be making his return to both Romeo Ferraris and Alfa Romeo in TCR competition. Ferrara had previously raced for Romeo Ferraris – then known as Team Mulsanne – in the final 2 rounds of the 2018 WTCR season, scoring two points finishes on the grueling streets of Macau with the Giulietta TCR.
He also raced the Giulietta in the TCR Italy championship with 42 Racing on the same year where he narrowly missed out on the title from Salvatore Tavano by just 2.5 points, scoring 5 race wins and 8 podium finishes along the way.
“I know the team well as I raced already in the 2018 FIA WTCR season’s finale; the same year I fought for the TCR Italy title with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris. The Hungaroring is a nice track and it will be fun to drive it with the Giulia ETCR by Romeo Ferraris. I had the chance to test the car during one day at Varano, and the feeling was great. High temperatures will be an important factor to consider, but let’s make it”.
It is currently unknown on whether Ferrara will be making a return to the Shadow team for next weekend’s Euro Series race at Most. Ferrara was forced to miss the second round at Brands Hatch last month due to a high-speed crash he suffered in the second PRO class race at Valencia that damaged the Shadow DNM8 chassis he drove, forcing Shadow to enter just one car for the SpeedFest.
Disclaimer: Photos used in this article are courtesy of the respective sources.