Reigning Scandinavian Touring Car Champion Rickard Rydell will race in the season opener of the World Touring Car Championship at Monza. The Swede will participate in the event for Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden as part of its preparation to defend the STCC crown in 2012.
Rydell was last seen in the WTCC in 2009 when he drove for SEAT Sport. The 44 year-old Swede competed in the WTCC between 2005 and 2009, finishing fifth overall in 2008 and taking 5 wins and 24 podiums in his previous stint in the championship.
“It will be fun to get back to the WTCC, and to do it with a Swedish team,” said Rydell. “Monza is a track that is unlike any that we have competed in the STCC, with its long straights and hard braking. It is one of the fastest courses in the world, and it will be really fun to go there along with Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden. Our goal is to defend the STCC title from last year, and the WTCC premiere gives us the best chance to get into the swing of the season.”
Team Manager Nicklas Karlsson knows that it will be difficult to jump into the WTCC and perform straight away. However his outfit has competed at the circuit before, having run a car for Argentinian Leonel Pernía at the track in 2010.
“[The] WTCC race at Monza will be a big challenge, but we feel well prepared and see this as the perfect dress rehearsal for the coming STCC season,” said Karlsson. “Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden has developed into a more positive direction in recent years, and this is another step in the right direction. Thanks to the platform the STCC has offered we have been able to shape a team that is better prepared today than in any of our previous appearances in the WTCC and we are now ready to test ourself against the best in the world.”
The team have not ruled out the possibility of making further appearances in the WTCC during the course of the year.