Pepe Oriola has confirmed that he will return to the World Touring Car Championship for the 2013 season after reports last week suggesting that the young Spaniard was closing on a deal.
Oriola will race for the Tuenti Racing team at the wheel of a SEAT Leon
WTCC in what will be his third season in the championship, despite him still being just 18-years-old.
The Spaniard, who is the youngest driver to have ever stood on the podium in an
FIA World Championship, took eighth in the championship standings last year and will now aim to improve on that result when the new season gets underway at Monza.
“It has been a difficult winter, as we had to put in a strong effort to find companies willing to sponsor the programme,” he said. “2013 will be tough, however I hope that the experience I have gained last year will help me to improve further.
“I am still the youngest of the pack, but I am respected by my competitors who have to reckon with me on the track! My goal is to finish among the top-six in the championship.”
2013 WTCC entry list: (as of 28 February 2013):Gabriele Tarquini Honda Racing Team JAS
Honda Civic 1.6TTiago Monteiro Honda Racing Team JAS
Honda Civic 1.6TJames Thompson Lukoil LADA Sport
LADA Granta SportAleksei Dudukalo Lukoil LADA Sport
LADA Granta SportNorbert Michelisz Zengo Motorsport
Honda Civic 1.6TTom Coronel ROAL Motorsport
BMW 320 TCDarryl O'Young ROAL Motorsport
BMW 320 TCAlex MacDowall Bamboo Engineering
Chevrolet Cruze 1.6TJames Nash Bamboo Engineering
Chevrolet Cruze 1.6TMehdi Bennani Proteam Motorsport
BMW 320 TCRob Huff Munnich Motorsport
SEAT Leon WTCCMarc Basseng Munnich Motorsport
SEAT Leon WTCCRene Munnich Munnich Motorsport
SEAT Leon WTCCFranz Engstler Liqui Moly Team Engstler
BMW 320 TCCharles Ng Liqui Moly Team Engstler
BMW 320 TCTBA Wiechers-Sport
BMW 320 TCPepe Oriola Tuenti Racing Team
SEAT Leon WTCC