The BMW Italia outfit in the Superstars Series have confirmed an all star outfit for the 2010 campaign. The team, run by former WTCC Champion Roberto Ravaglia have confirmed an outfit which contains 5 Superstars Series titles as well as Three FIA GT Titles.
The team will be entering the 500bhp saloon series with former F1 and WTCC driver Gianni Morbidelli, Luca Cappellari, and they have been joined by 33 year old Thomas Biagi and 44 year old Stefano Gabellini.
Biagi, who is from Bologna has claimed the FIA GT title twice, in 2003 and 2006, and took 11 wins and 30 podium finishes in the 58 races he took part in, and his Superstars debut will come at the opening round of the Championship, at Monza over the weekend of the 26th to 28th March. Biagi said about the deal: “Ravaglia has been my hero among touring car drivers and right after talking with him I told myself I would have done everything to race with his team. I’ve been driving BMWs for a long time on the road, and being part of their team is a dream coming true”
44 years old Gabellini won the International Superstars title in 2008, and the last couple of seasons have shown that he has solid driving skills, after finishing runner up to new team mate Morbidelli in the National standings. Stefano said: “I’ve been a long time BMW racer also in other championships, and to be joining their works team can’t make me happier.”
For former Formula One and World Touring Car Championship racer Morbidelli, 2010 will see him go for another Superstars title, after cruising to the Italian Superstars Championship and backed that up with the International Series title. The season coming sees Morbidelli enter his second season with the BMW, after a dominating with the Audi RS4.
The final part of the Team BMW Italia squad is filled by Cappellari, the 2004 FIA GT Champion. After the FIA GT Championship, Luca became a regular winner in the main endurance touring car championship, having won the ETCS twice and the CITE title in 2008.
Roberto Ravaglia said about his team line up: “The arrival of Thomas Biagi completes our 2010 line-up in the best possible way, now we can focus on testing, which is set to start this week at Monza with Morbidelli and Biagi, and will continue at the same venue next week, with Cappellari and Gabellini”
