Romeo Ferraris is an Italian tuning and

auto racing Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. In North America, the term is commonly used to describe all forms of automobile sport including non ...

team based in

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. The team has raced in the

TCR International Series The TCR International Series was an international Touring car racing, touring car championship. The championship was promoted by World Sporting Consulting (WSC), founded by former World Touring Car Championship manager Marcello Lotti. It was ma ...

, since

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

, and in the

FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup (Pure ETCR during its first season) was a touring car series for electric cars. It was the first multi-brand all-electric touring car championship and in 2022 obtained the status of an official FIA series. Ho ...

, since

2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...

. Previously the team had raced in the

Superstars Series The Superstars International Series was a production-based touring car racing championship held between 2004 and 2013. It was managed by the "Superstars World of Racing SpA", SWR, a company of FG Group with headquarters in Rome and sanctioned by ...

and the

Italian Touring Car Championship The Italian Superturismo Championship (Campionato Italiano Superturismo) is Italy's national motorsport series for touring cars. It was established in 1987 and its drivers' title has been held by such notable drivers as Le Mans winners Emanuele P ...

, amongst others.

Early years

1959–1973

After being founded by Romeo Ferraris in 1959, the team went on to race in the

in 1965. The team took several wins and podiums from 1965–72, also participating in the World Speedboat Record in 1970. The team also took a two victories in the Italian Prototype Championship in 1972 & 1973.

1975–1993

Having made the switch to the Italian Inboard Championship for the 1975 season, the team raced in the championship up until 1977. Participating in another World Speedboat Record in 1978 and 1979 with a diesel-engined boat. Continuing with boat racing through to 1993, taking several victories and podium finishes along the way.

1994–2014

After many years away from Track racing, the team returned to track with a historic racing prepared

Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is a series of American Car, automobiles manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its Ford Mustang (seventh ...

. The team also supplied the Nuova F.500 Trophy with engines from 1994–95. For 1996 the team made a return to boat racing, taking part in the World Speedboat Record once again. However, the team didn't stop track racing and raced an

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Alfa Romeo Giulietta is the name of three different automobiles made by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo: * The first Giulietta (Type 750 and 101) was a rear-wheel drive car made from 1954 to 1965, in 4-door saloon/sedan, coupé, spider and e ...

that year. In 2002 the team began racing in the European Superdiesel Challenge, taking several victories and podiums up until 2007, even taking the championship title in 2003. Continuing with touring cars in 2008 in the Campionato Italiano Turismo Endurance (formerly the

), as well as taking on the Italian GT Championship. Taking many wins and podiums through to 2010, when they joined the

and the Superstars GTSprint Series, also taking wins and podiums in these championships through to 2014. In 2012 the team took part in the Peugeot RCZ Racing Cup taking a single victory. Returning to the Campionato Italiano Turismo Endurance in 2015, saw the team take one win and several podiums. In 2012,

Michela Cerruti Michela Cerruti (born 18 February 1987) is an Italian former racing driver. Career Born in Rome, Cerruti attended the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, studying Psychology. Cerruti's racing career began after her father Aldo 'Baro ...

and Valentina Albanese finished second in the Circuit Hero 500 km Endurance Race at

Zhuhai International Circuit Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC) () is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its Zhuhai Street Circuit, street circuit in 1993. Racing continued there until ...

, with Romeo Ferraris being the only European racing team participating. In March 2013 at the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival in Zhuhai, Romeo Ferraris participated with a Mercedes C63 AMG prepared according to the technical regulation of the Superstars Series. Driver Mario Ferraris took the car to two wins.

TCR International Series

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR (2016–)

In 2014, the Italian tuning garage Romeo Ferraris started to work, without the marques help, in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta to race in

in 2015. Having first announced their participation in the 2015 Guia Race of Macau, the team later withdrew, due to not having enough time to test the car. The team started an extensive testing program shortly after completing the first car, the car was tested by Salvatore Tavano and

at several Italian race tracks, not far from the team's base in Milano. Appearing under the banner of Mulsanne Racing,

drove the first two races of the

season. They returned in the 5th round in Salzburgring with a second car for Petř Fulín and a new color scheme, staying in the championship until the end of the year with two cars. In

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

, Davit Kajaia and Dusan Borković joined forces with Romeo Ferraris and raced the full TCR-season as GE-Force, taking three victories in Georgia, Bahrain and Salzburgring. In

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

, mostly because WTCC and TCR Internacional became one, the team Mulsanne Racing entered the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) with two Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV for the two Alfa Romeo legends Gianni Morbidelli, which raced until Vila Real being replaced by Kevin Ceccon (who scored a race win in Suzuka), and Fabrizio Giovanardi, who was replaced in the Suzuka round by Luigi "Gigi" Ferrara (2nd overall in TCR Italy 2018). For the

2019 season Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number) * One of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (1987 film), a 1987 science fiction film * '' 19-Nineteen'', a 2009 South Korean film * '' Dici ...

, the car received a major aerodynamic upgrade being renamed as "Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce". Team Mulsanne maintained Ceccon and hired Ma Qing Hua (ex-Formula E and WTCC driver). Alongside the World Cup cars, Romeo Ferraris will have about 8-10 Giuliettas racing in TCR Italy, UK, USA, Australia and China. After initial rumours that the team would withdraw from WTCR and move to the Electric TCR series, it was announced that the team would run a single entry in 2020 season for

Jean-Karl Vernay Jean-Karl "J. K." Vernay (born 31 October 1987) is a French professional racing driver. He was 2010 Indy Lights and 2017 TCR International Series champion. He has won races at the World Touring Car Cup, where he finished fifth in 2018 and won th ...

Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR (2021–)

Since the inaugural season in 2021, the team have raced in the

(originally PURE ETCR) series with the Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR. In December 2019, Romeo Ferraris announced they would cooperate with Hexathron Racing System to develop and build Giulia-based electric touring cars for the nascent series. Operations manager Michela Cerruti and driver Jean-Karl Vernay unveiled the car at MotorLand Aragon in November 2020. The final racing configuration, integrating the mandated battery, was shown at Autodromo Vallelunga in March 2021. Jean-Karl Vernay was announced as the first driver for the inaugural 2021 season, but after he was poached by Hyundai,

Stefano Coletti Stefano Coletti (born 6 April 1989) is a Monaco, Monégasque former professional Auto racing, racing driver who raced for SMP Racing in the European Le Mans Series. His sister Alexandra Coletti is an alpine skier. He is the first Monégasque drive ...

Oliver Webb Oliver "Oli" James Webb (born 20 March 1991 in Manchester) is a British auto racing driver. He is a 2004 Karting Champion, 2007 Formula BMW Scholarship winner, 2010 Formula 3 competitor, 2014 European Le Mans series Champion, 2015 Dubai 24 Hou ...

Luca Filippi Luca Filippi (born 9 August 1985 in Savigliano, Italy) is an Italian former auto racing driver. He competed in GP2 Series from 2006 to 2012, and the IndyCar Series from 2013 to 2016. In 2008 he was the official Honda Racing F1 test driver. Career ...

, and Rodrigo Baptista were named the drivers instead.

Philipp Eng Philipp Eng (born 28 February 1990 in Salzburg) is an Austrian professional racing driver, and BMW Motorsport works driver. Career Karting Eng started karting in 2003, by competing in KF2, Intercontinental A Junior karts, competing in the Andre ...

replaced Coletti ahead of Round 3 at the

Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix is a Historic motorsport, vintage motor sports car race held annually on the grounds of Bellahøj in Copenhagen, Denmark. It has been arranged since 2001 (at Fælledparken from 2001 to 2012) except 2020 and takes pl ...

. For Round 4 at the

Hungaroring The Hungaroring is a motorsport racetrack in Mogyoród, Pest County, Hungary where the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix is held. In 1986, it became the location of the first Formula One Grand Prix motor racing, Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtai ...

Luigi Ferrara Luigi Ferrara (born 12 May 1982) is an Italian racing driver from Bari. Career He began his career in feeder formula series such as the Formula Renault 2.0 Italia, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Italian Formula Three and International Formula Ma ...

drove in Webb's place, as Webb was competing in the

24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans () is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the city of Le Mans, France. It is widely considered to be one of the world's most prestigious races, and is one of the races—along with ...

race that weekend. Baptista was the team's top driver for the 2021 season, placing fifth overall in the drivers' championship, starting all five rounds with one podium finish (third place in Round 2 at

MotorLand Aragón MotorLand Aragón (alternative Spanish name: Circuito de Alcañiz) is a race track used for motorsports located in Alcañiz, Spain. The circuit was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke in conjunction with the British architectural busin ...

). The team finished second overall. For the 2022 season, Romeo Ferraris announced they would field four drivers:

Maxime Martin Maxime Martin (born 20 March 1986) is a Belgian professional racing driver and son of four-time Spa 24 Hours winner Jean-Michel Martin. He is currently a factory driver for Mercedes-AMG set to compete in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championsh ...

, Luca Filippi,

Bruno Spengler Bruno Spengler (born August 23, 1983) is an Alsatian-born Canadian racing driver. A long-term Mercedes-AMG and BMW factory driver, he currently works for Bugatti. He is the 2012 DTM champion. Career Early career Spengler was born near Strasbo ...

, and

Giovanni Venturini Giovanni Venturini (born 9 November 1991 in Vicenza) is a professional racing driver from Italy. Career Formula 2000 Light Venturini began his Formula racing career in November 2008, racing in the Formula 2000 Light Italy Winter Trophy, where he ...

, with Filippi the sole returning driver from 2021.

References

External links

Romeo Ferraris official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Romeo Ferraris Italian auto racing teams TCR International Series teams Italian racecar constructors FIA Formula 3 European Championship teams Auto racing teams established in 1959 Alfa Romeo in motorsport