MotoGP star Marco Melandri (seen above in action at Bologna last year) will join N.Technology Alfa Romeo in the 32nd edition of the Bologna Motor Show on 8-9 December.

MotoGP star Marco Melandri will join N.Technology in the 32nd edition of the Bologna Motor Show on 8-9 December, racing in the Nivea For Men Eurotouring event alongside James Thompson, who raced in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) for the team this year finishing third overall in the final points standings.

The Italian team won the Bologna Motor Show challenge for touring cars in 2006 with then lead driver Augusto Farfus, as well as in 1998 and 2002 with Nicola Larini, whilst Melandri finished an impressive third last year, after reaching the semi-final rounds.

“I’m really looking forward to repeating last year’s experience,” said Melandri, who will be racing with World MotoGP Champions Ducati next season. “I was in a car from the Italian Touring Car Championship and this year I get to drive the official N.Technology World Touring Car Championship car, with James Thompson who finished third in the championship… It’s pretty good. I hope I can finish at the top again, although some of the regulations have changed for this year, we will be running on slick tyres whereas last year was on wet-weather tyres. The aim is still to enjoy ourselves and put on a great show for the spectators though!”

Thompson will be up against several of his WTCC rivals in the motorsports arena this year, including two Italian former N.Technology Alfa Romeo drivers', Gabriele Tarquini (Seat Leon) and Larini (Chevrolet Lacetti). The event begins on Saturday 8 December with Free Practice from 15.30 to 15.55 (local time) followed by Race One at 16.25 until 16.55. Sunday features five more rounds: Race Two (09.50-10.20), Race Three (11.20-11.50), Semi-Final (13.45-15.05), Finals (15.50-16.00 and 16.10-16.10).