Roberto Ravaglia
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Italian Roberto Ravaglia (born May 26, 1957) currently runs BMW's Team Italy-Spain in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), who took Alessandro Zanardi to a famous race victory at Oschersleben. Before retiring in 1997, he was one of most successful touring car racing driver, primarily for BMW, and won six titles in three championships.
He was twice Italian karting champion, and raced in Formula 3 in the early 1980s. In 1984 he made his touring car debut, becoming European Touring Car Championship champion in 1986, and successfully defending the title in 1987 and 1988 (though in 1987 it was the World Touring Car Championship), with some races outside Europe including the Macau Grand Prix Guia Touring Car races. Later in the 1988 season he was unable to defend his Macau win due to breaking his rib in a road accident driving his Fiat Uno. He switched with BMW to the DTM in 1989, and the Italian Supertourismo championship in 1990, winning both at the first attempt. He was also champion in 1991 and 1993. One of the few unsuccessful seasons of his career was 1994 in the British Touring Car Championship although he also came 4th in Supertourismo that year. He was now approaching 40, and did not win another championship as a driver.
Now he competes in the World Touring Car Championship as director of his team, BMW team Italy/Spain.
Preceded by Gianfranco Brancatelli |
European Touring Car Championship champion 1986 |
Succeeded by Winfried Vogt |
Preceded by none |
World Touring Car Championship champion 1987 |
Succeeded by Andy Priaulx (2005) |
Preceded by Winfried Vogt |
European Touring Car Championship champion 1988 |
Succeeded by Fabrizio Giovanardi (2002) |