Aiello eyes BTCC return

After taking the title with Nissan in his first season in the BTCC, Aiello switched to the DTM this year to race an Abt-built Audi TT-R following Nissan's withdrawal from Super Touring, but he says the BTCC remains unfinished business.

"If a BTCC team wants to talk to me, then I'll listen," he said. "I've always said that one year racing in England was not enough, so I would definitely like to be back.

"The new rules do not look too exciting to be honest, but as long as the drivers and teams who are in it now stay there, it will be very competitive."

The Frenchman, who is yet to score a point in the DTM, fuelled speculation that unless the TT-R can be made into a front-runner (see separate story), he would quit the team.

"I am here for winning races, not for finishing last - that's okay for one year, but definitely not more," he said.

Although Abt runs its programme without works support, Aiello is still contracted to Audi for Le Mans and that could play a part in his decision.

"If they commit to Le Mans again, then I'll probably stay with Abt in the DTM," he said, "but I'm really not sure of Audi's programme yet."

Aiello's salary demands may be a major sticking point, but his potential BTCC options could include spear-heading Peugeot's return - he was a French and German champion with the marque - or re-uniting with his former engineer Ludovic Lacroix, now with Triple Eight, to race a Vauxhall Astra.

"I would love to work with Ludovic if the opportunity came up in 2001," said Aiello. "It's just a question of having the right programme."