Turkish driver Ibrahim Okyay will return to the World Touring Car Championship at the next round at Monza.
Okyay made his first WTCC appearance at his home round at Istanbul in 2006. For 2008 he competed in a full season for the Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport team in a BMW 320si, finishing sixth in the Independents' Trophy. In 2010 he competed in the European Touring Car Cup, finishing fourth overall.
He is a five-time Turkish touring car champion, winning the title in 1999, 2001, 2007, 2009 and 2010.
The 41-year-old will make his return to the WTCC at Monza with the Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport team driving a normally-aspirated BMW 320si. With his car lacking a turbo he knows that it will be difficult to be competitive in Italy, but he is pleased to back in the series with a view to making a full-time return in 2012.
“Although we managed to achieve brilliant results in the ETCC and in Turkey, we are aware of how difficult is to be successful in the WTCC,” said Okyay. “I don't think that the BMW 320si may be competitive against the 1.6 turbo cars.
“But it's good to be back in the World Championship, because our plan is to compete in the whole season in 2012 and the races in Monza will help us to understand where we are.”
