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Aurelien Panis switches to WTCC for 2017 season

Aurelien Panis will switch from single-seaters to touring cars for the 2017 season, signing with Zengo Motorsport to race in the WTCC.

Edited: Jan 31, 2017, 4:58 PM

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Podium: race winner Aurelien Panis, Arden Motorsport

Ferenc Ficza, Honda Team Zengo, Honda Civic WTCC

Aurélien Panis, Arden Motorsport

Daniel Nagy, Honda Team Zengo, Honday Civic WTCC

Aurelien Panis, Arden Motorsport

The 22-year-old, who is the son of 1996 Monaco Grand Prix winner Olivier, raced in Formula V8 3.5 last season, finishing fifth overall with three victories.

Panis will race a Honda Civic WTCC for Zengo this season, and becomes the first confirmed driver for the Hungarian team.

“I’m very proud to join the WTCC,” said Panis. “It is a very strong international championship and a great step in my career.

"There are many experienced and successful drivers in the series so it will be a very exciting and tough challenge for me; I had better roll up my sleeves from day one.

"I’m proud to drive for a great team like Zengo Motorsport, which has won races in the past, and I am very honoured to join the Honda Racing Family.”

“Everything will be new for me this season and the goal will be to learn and gain experience quickly, in order to be able to fight at the top as soon as possible."

Last season, Zengo Motorsport ran two cars for Hungarian youngsters Ferenc Ficza and Daniel Nagy, although the latter only joined the field for the final five rounds.

The team is set to announce a second driver for 2017 at a later date.

2017 WTCC grid so far:

Team Car Drivers Honda JAS Honda Civic

Tiago Monteiro

Norbert Michelisz

Ryo Michigami

Volvo Polestar Volvo S60 Thed Bjork Sebastien Loeb Racing Citroen C-Elysee

Tom Chilton

Mehdi Bennani

Munnich Motorsport Citroen C-Elysee Rob Huff Campos Racing Chevrolet Cruze John Filippi Zengo Motorsport Honda Civic Aurelien Panis

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