Gabriele Tarquini calls time on racing career

Gabriele Tarquini has announced that he will bring his long and successful racing career to a close at the conclusion of the 2021 World Touring Car Cup season.

The 59-year-old Italian started his career back in the early 1980s in Italian Formula 3 and worked his way up to Formula 1, where he made his debut with the Osella team in 1987.

Tarquini would manage just a single point during a difficult F1 career that saw him earn the record for most failed attempts to qualify, with his focus turning towards touring cars when he was signed up to compete in the Italian Superturismo Championship.

It was here that a relationship began with Alfa Romeo that would see Tarquini move to the British Touring Car Championship, where he lifted the title with the 155 in 1994.

Having also raced in the International Touring Car Series with the Italian manufacturer, Tarquini then spent time with Honda before a return to Alfa in 2003 saw him lift the European Touring Car Championship – edging out Jörg Müller for the title by a single point.

Third the following season, Tarquini remained with Alfa Romeo when the series morphed into the World Touring Car Championship in 2005 before joining SEAT a year later.

It was with the Spanish marque that Tarquini would secure the World Touring Car Championship title in 2009, whilst he would also finish as runner-up on three occasions – twice whilst with SEAT and then again with Honda in 2013.

After working with Hyundai throughout 2017 on development of the new i30 N TCR, Tarquini was placed in the World Touring Car Cup for the inaugural season in 2018 and emerged from the campaign as champion after a season long fight with fellow veteran Yvan Muller.

Tarquini currently sits just outside the top ten in the standings this season having taken a single win in Spain – where he became the oldest driver to win an FIA race.

However, on the eve of his home event at Adria International Raceway, confirmed his decision to bring his career to a close after the final event of the year in Russia later this month.

“This is a day you never think about when you start a career but it is time to stop and I will retire at the end of the season,” he said. “This has been a long story and an unbelievable experience with a lot of manufacturers and making a lot of friends along the way. I cannot name one person as I know I will forget someone who has helped me in my career.

“It is a sad day but I took the decision in the middle of the year after my win in Aragon. That is when I decided it would be my final season.

“It is quite strange for me as I am always thinking about the next season, but now I want to take a small rest and make the best decision for me and my family and also for Hyundai as I have a special relationship with them from the last five years.

“I am thinking about the best way to work around motorsport as I don’t want to stop driving completely as it like a drug and I cannot go from 100 to zero just like that. Maybe I will do some tests and maybe a few races but I won’t be back in a full championship again.

“I’m still competitive in the races and still smiling in my helmet, and I know I will miss the adrenaline that comes from racing, but all stories have a start and a finish.

“My story has been unbelievable and here at my home race in Italy is the right moment to announce it is coming to an end.”