Duncan Huisman joins BMW Team Italy-Spain in the FIA WTCC.
2006 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)
Duncan Huisman joins BMW Team Italy-Spain in the FIA WTCC.
Munich, 14th June 2006. Prior to races nine and ten of the FIA World Touring
Car Championship (WTCC) in Curitiba, BMW Team Italy-Spain is introducing Duncan
Huisman (NLD) as its new driver. In Brazil, the 34-year-old will battle for
World Championship points behind the wheel of the BMW 320si WTCC for the first
time. Huisman replaces Marcel Costa (ESP), who competed for the team of Roberto
Ravaglia (ITA) in the first eight races of the season.
"I am very happy to be able to welcome Duncan to our team," Ravaglia commented
on the signing of Huisman. "He will add a lot of Touring Car experience to the
team. That is why I am convinced he will be a great help in ideally utilising
the potential of the car." Huisman is also looking forward to his first
appearance in the new BMW 320si WTCC and says: "I am very happy that BMW Team
Italy-Spain has given me the opportunity to return to the World Touring Car
Championship.
I will meet the team on the Adria Raceway in Italy for the first time this
week, for the seat fitting and a first set-up of the car. Together with BMW
Team Germany, we will then travel to Budapest for some tests, and I can't wait
for it to happen. The car looks fantastic and has already proved it is very
competitive in the World Championship races so far. "
Huisman competed in two WTCC races last year in the BMW 320i. Alongside World
Champion Andy Priaulx (GBR), he entered the Macau event for BMW Team Holland
and immediately recorded a win in the second race.
This was, however, not the first time the experienced driver won the legendary
"Guia Race". Huisman triumphed on the narrow city circuit in 2001, 2002 and
2003. No other driver has won in Macau more times than that. Huisman also left
a lasting impression on the European Touring Car Championship. In 2003, he
claimed victory in the Independents' Trophy in the BMW 320i of Team Carly
Motors.
In his career so far, Huisman has also collected countless titles in national
racing series. Among other things, he has won the Dutch Touring Car
Championship three times. In addition, Huisman proved he is a universal
motorsport talent by showing good performances in long distance races. In 2005,
he entered the Nürburgring 24 Hours for Team BMW Motorsport for the second time
in a row and, together with his team-mates Priaulx, Boris Said (USA) and Pedro
Lamy (PRT), recorded BMW's 18th overall victory.
In the current season, Huisman has so far competed in the Swedish Touring Car
Championship, where he will continue to race in a BMW 320i. Nevertheless, he is
now focussed on celebrating a good debut performance for BMW Team Italy-Spain.
Huisman will enter his first race at the "Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba"
on 2nd July, when the World Touring Car Championship makes its first appearance
this year outside Europe.