Aiello switches to Opel
Former DTM champion Laurent Aiello will drive for Opel in the German-based touring car series next year, switching from the Abt-Audi squad after four seasons
The 2002 title-winner is the third high-profile addition to Opel's driver line-up in the off-season, following former F1 star Heinz-Harald Frentzen and former Mercedes DTM driver Marcel Fassler.
Aiello, who decided to leave the Abt-Audi squad last month, said: "I've been in touch with Opel for the past two seasons, and I'm very happy to have signed with them. I'm very glad to be staying in the DTM, as I've become very attached to the series."
Aiello will drive a new Vectra GTS for the manufacturer in next season's DTM, ensuring that Opel will run at least five of the new machines in the series. Along with Frentzen and Fassler, Opel returnees Peter Dumbreck and Manuel Reuter have also been guaranteed new cars.
Volker Strycek, the Opel motorsport chief, said: "With Laurent we have yet another top driver joining our ranks. He is a known quantity in touring car racing and certainly another valuable addition to our team."
Opel also announced that Gunther Steiner will become technical manager of the DTM project. He was most recently the technical director of the Jaguar Formula 1 team.
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