Proteam Motorsport has announced that Stefano D'Aste won't return for the 2008 World Touring Car Championship season, despite previously announcing otherwise.

The team had revealed that D'Aste was set to return for a fourth year, and second in succession, in an attempt to win back his Independents' Trophy title, an honour he took in 2006 while driving with Wiechers-Sport.

However, requests from the drivers management team have now forced team boss Valmiro Presenzini to back track on his initial announcement, revealing instead that D'Aste wouldn't be part of his line-up for 2009.

"Stefano's management made some unexpected requests that I do not agree with and am not in a position to agree to," he said. "I had to refuse the deal but we are already in discussions with other drivers and will announce our driver line-up soon."

D'Aste had finished third in the Independents' standings this season, while team-mate Sergio Hernandez lifted the crown.