Proteam Motorsport
Encyclopedia
Proteam Motorsport is an Italian auto racing
team based in Arezzo
that was set up by former driver Valmiro Presenzini in 1997. They are best known for their efforts in the FIA World Touring Car Championship
. Their time in the WTCC has seen them become the most successful independent team in the championship, winning three Independent Team titles in 1996, 2007 and 2008. Initially the team would enter Renault
related events across Europe. Presenzini himself competed in The Renault Clio Cup
, Renault 5 Turbo Cup and the Megane cup. After success in these series, they started a programme for the European Touring Car Championship
, which they entered in 2003. They have entered cars in the Italian Clio Cup, the Ferrari Challenge
, and as of 2006, the Italian Superturismo Championship
with driver Cristian Ricciarini.
.
. Two Italian drivers competed a full season, Stefano D'Aste
and Giuseppe Cirò
. They won the independent teams title, with Cirò finishing as runner-up in the independents trophy, with D'Aste finishing third. They managed a highly impressive result in round twelve at spa, D'Aste managed a podium finish, coming second overall.
, who managed two podium finishes at Valencia. despite this, he was runner up at the end of the season in the independents trophy. Again D'Aste was third. Proteam lost out on the teams title to GR Asia, who had trophy winner Tom Coronel
driving for them.
. Italian Davide Roda
competed for the team in just two rounds at Brno. The cars were replaced by new BMW 320si's
. Another podium saw Rangoni as high as fourteenth in the overall points. Hernández also finished in the points with an eighth at Valenci. This helped Proteam regain the independents team title. Former proteam driver D'Aste won the independents trophy.
Rangoni left the WTCC after 2007, and this led to a return to Proteam for D'Aste, the defending independent champion. It was Hernández who was the star of the season, often racing up amongst the works drivers. He managed to finish in the points three times, including a podium at Okayama, D'Aste also managed two points, with a seventh place at Brands Hatch
. When D'Aste failed to attend the final rounds at Macau, due to a protest for a grid penalty, he was replaced by Bulgarian George Tanev. Hernández won the independents trophy, and Proteam successfully defended the teams title.
, who switched teams with Hernández from BMW Team Italy-Spain. A third car was entered in selected rounds for Italian driver Vito Postiglione
. Tanev left the championship after the third round and guest appearances were made late in the season by Fabio Fabiani
and Nobuteru Taniguchi
. Despite a strong start to the year, Porteiro finished as runner-up in the Yokohama Independents' Trophy.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team based in Arezzo
Arezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
that was set up by former driver Valmiro Presenzini in 1997. They are best known for their efforts in the FIA World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
. Their time in the WTCC has seen them become the most successful independent team in the championship, winning three Independent Team titles in 1996, 2007 and 2008. Initially the team would enter Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
related events across Europe. Presenzini himself competed in The Renault Clio Cup
Renault Clio Cup
The Renault Clio Cup is a One-make racing series created and managed by Renault Sport. As the name suggests, Renault Clio cars are used, and are grouped in 15 national championships and an International Cup.-Championships:...
, Renault 5 Turbo Cup and the Megane cup. After success in these series, they started a programme for the European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
, which they entered in 2003. They have entered cars in the Italian Clio Cup, the Ferrari Challenge
Ferrari Challenge
The Ferrari Challenge is a single-marque motorsport championship that was created in 1993 for owners of the 348 Berlinetta who wanted to become involved in racing. It now encompasses three official championships in the United States, Italy, and Europe. Competitors from each series are brought...
, and as of 2006, the Italian Superturismo Championship
Italian Superturismo Championship
The Italian Superturismo Championship was 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 winner Emanuele Pirro and two-time Champ Car champion Alex Zanardi.-History:Established in 1987 the...
with driver Cristian Ricciarini.
WTCC
2005 season
Proteam entered the inaugural WTCC season with two BMW 320i'sBMW E46
The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW, produced from 1998 when it succeeded the BMW E36 until it was replaced by the BMW E90 in 2005....
. Two Italian drivers competed a full season, Stefano D'Aste
Stefano D'Aste
Stefano D'Aste is an Italian auto racing driver.His early racing career included competing on motorcycles and the Monza International Rally...
and Giuseppe Cirò
Giuseppe Cirò
Giuseppe Cirò is an Italian auto racing driver.-Career:He started his racing career in 1990 through karting, winning several national titles. He started circuit racing in 1995 with Italian Renault Clio Cup, winning the championship three times in 1996, 2003 and 2004...
. They won the independent teams title, with Cirò finishing as runner-up in the independents trophy, with D'Aste finishing third. They managed a highly impressive result in round twelve at spa, D'Aste managed a podium finish, coming second overall.
2006 season
Cirò was replaced in the team by Luca RangoniLuca Rangoni
Luca Rangoni is an Italian auto racing driver. He is a married man with one son.-Early career:Like many racing drivers, Rangoni's first taste of racing was in karts, where he spent four years. He made his debut in circuit racing in the 1989 Italian Formula Alfa Boxer Championship, where he...
, who managed two podium finishes at Valencia. despite this, he was runner up at the end of the season in the independents trophy. Again D'Aste was third. Proteam lost out on the teams title to GR Asia, who had trophy winner Tom Coronel
Tom Coronel
Tom Romeo Coronel is a Dutch auto racing driver. Tom's twin brother Tim is also a racer, just like their father Tom Coronel Sr...
driving for them.
2007 season
For 2007, D'Aste left the team for rival independent team Wiechers Sport and was replaced by Spaniard Sergio HernándezSergio Hernandez
Sergio Hernández von Reckowski is a Spanish racing driver, currently competing in the World Touring Car Championship.-Career:...
. Italian Davide Roda
Davide Roda
Davide Roda is an Italian auto racing driver. His first serious drive came in 2002 when he drove the Italian Alfa 147 Cup. From 2003, he spent the next three years competing in the European Alfa 147 Challenge. In 2006 he drove in the FIA World Touring Car Championship with an independent SEAT Leon...
competed for the team in just two rounds at Brno. The cars were replaced by new BMW 320si's
BMW E90
The saloon model was the first model sold of the 5th generation BMW 3 series. Debuting in the US in 2006, the E90 came in two trims, the 325i/xi and 330i/xi models...
. Another podium saw Rangoni as high as fourteenth in the overall points. Hernández also finished in the points with an eighth at Valenci. This helped Proteam regain the independents team title. Former proteam driver D'Aste won the independents trophy.
2008 season
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
. When D'Aste failed to attend the final rounds at Macau, due to a protest for a grid penalty, he was replaced by Bulgarian George Tanev. Hernández won the independents trophy, and Proteam successfully defended the teams title.
2009 season
With Hernández gone to the works BMW Team Italy-Spain and D'Aste gone to Wiechers-Sport, Proteam needed two new drivers for 2009. Tanev first signed for a full season. He was followed by Félix PorteiroFelix Porteiro
Félix Porteiro is a Spanish racing driver.-Single-seaters:In 2001 Porteiro drove in the Spanish Formula Three Championship, finishing fourth in the standings, with one win. In 2002 he began racing in the World Series by Nissan. He finished 18th in the standings in 2002, 14th in 2003 and seventh in...
, who switched teams with Hernández from BMW Team Italy-Spain. A third car was entered in selected rounds for Italian driver Vito Postiglione
Vito Postiglione
- Racing career :Postiglione won the Italian Renault Mégane Winter Trophy in 1998. He then finished runner-up in the main series in 1999. He went one better, winning the trophy the following year. Naturally, he moved up to the Renault Clio Sport Eurocup and was runner-up in his first season in...
. Tanev left the championship after the third round and guest appearances were made late in the season by Fabio Fabiani
Fabio Fabiani
Fabio Fabiani is an Italian auto racing driver.-Moto Bike Career:He started in Italian Sport Production Championship in 1994 moving to Italian 125cc in 1995. After Military Service in 1996 he raced in the Italian 600 Sport Production class, Italian 125cc, European 125cc and 250cc and World...
and Nobuteru Taniguchi
Nobuteru Taniguchi
is a Japanese racing driver and former drifting driver who currently competes in Super GT. Taniguchi is commonly nicknamed "NOB" or "The Pimp" as a reference to his S15 Silvia which he is best known for....
. Despite a strong start to the year, Porteiro finished as runner-up in the Yokohama Independents' Trophy.