Tarquini returns to works Alfa squad

Tarquini will take the wheel of Romana Bernardoni's Nordauto 156 Gta for the event, and he will team up with series leader Fabrizio Giovanardi, Nicola Larini and recent recruit Roberto Colciago.

"My priority will be helping the team to score the last points they need to beat BMW in the manufacturers' championship," he said. "Hopefully this will happen in the first race, so that we could let be free to make our own races in the second. At the moment I have been only signed for Donington, we will see afterwards if I will drive in Estoril or not. This is definitely a big opportunity they gave me to rejoin the championship in a top car after I lost last year's title to Giovanardi in the final round."

Tarquini drove Alfa Romeo works cars from 1993 to 1996 in the Italian and British championships, and also in the 1996 FIA International Touring Car Championship. From 1997 he drove for Honda in the German and British championships before finishing second in last year's ETCC. This year, however, he has not raced at all.

"I am a bit worried because I haven't raced at all for the entire season and my participation will create a lot of interest," he added. "Unfortunately there won't be enough time to have a test in the Alfa 156 Gta, thus I can only count on the two Saturday free practice sessions to get used to it and the H-pattern gearbox. It's not an easy task, but I am really determined to impress, because a good result in Donington might be very important for me to finalise the contacts I have for coming back in 2003."