22.01.2004 MICHELE BARTYAN BECOMES THE FIRST CONFIRMED SIGNING FOR NEW ETCC OUTFIT TEAM OREGON

Young Italian racer Michele Bartyan has become the first driver to be confirmed by Team Oregon, to pilot one of their Alfa Romeo 156 GTA's in this year's European Touring Car Championship.

Team Oregon are stepping up this year to become Alfa Romeo's ETCC satellite team as the Italian marque aim to counter the factory backed BMW hordes. While Autodelta will line-up reigning ETC Champion Gabriele Tarquini, team returnee Fabrizio Giovanardi and Brazilian youngster Augusto Farfus, Team Oregon will be given parity of equipment and will enter three additional 156 GTA's.

Michele Bartyan, now moves up with the team to the ETCC from the European Renault Clio Cup where last year he ran with great success for the Italian outfit. Bartyan impressed Team Oregon boss Jerry Canevisio when he drove the team's Alfa Romeo 156 GTA in the official ETCC test at Valencia just before Christmas. The previous month he was one of thirteen driver's to be evaluated by Autodelta during an intensive two day test at Adria.

Salvatore Tavano, Paolo Ruberti, Alessandro Balzan and Luca Rangoni are the favourites for the remaining two seats. Tavano, Ruberti and Balzan all have ETCC experience, being regular runners last year. Ruberti and Balzan drove Alfa Romeo's for R&M Clever Cats and Bigazzi respectively.

Luca Rangoni, who also took part in November's Autodelta test at Adria, won last year's European Renault Clio Trophy with Team Oregon. Rangoni's dominant season saw him win seven of the nine ETCC supporting rounds for similar specification 285bhp V6 sequential transmission Clios.