Paul Jeffrey
Premium
Controversial Canadian Jacques Villeneuve has announced a full-time return to racing next year, inking a deal to join the growing Euro NASCAR championship.
A former Formula One World Champion and Indy 500 victor alongside his 1995 title success in the American category, Jacques Villeneuve has found himself out of full-time racing employment since walking away from Formula One at the end of the 2005 season - something the 47-year-old Canadian has rectified in time for next year, agreeing a deal to return to NASCAR competition for the first time since 2013.
Having lost his seat at Sauber to the up and coming Robert Kubica mid-season in 2005, Villeneuve spent something of a nomadic existence in motorsport for the next few years, trying his hand a various different forms of competitive racing, from NASCAR, Andros Trophy Ice Racing, V8 Supercars in Australia and plenty in between, however the often outspoken driver never quite managed to secure, and maintain, a full season of racing since his departure as a driver from the Grand Prix paddock.
Now returning to the officially sanctioned NASCAR tour, Villeneuve will join up with the Go Fas Racing Ford Mustang team that competes in the NASCAR Euro Series - an official sanctioned NASCAR category that races on road course locations throughout Europe.
"I had a lot of fun discovering the car because it is really similar to what I was used to in NASCAR in the US.. You can really drive it hard and you can work a lot on the car and that's also very nice" said Villeneuve of his early test with the team over at the Italian Franciacorta circuit earlier this week.
"Returning full-time is what matters the most to me, because I want to be part of a complete project and have a goal for the entire season. I'm really looking forward to the first race of 2019".
Returning to racing following recent abortive campaigns in both Formula E and the Americas Rallycross category, Villeneuve will be looking to undertake his first full time series since departing Formula One mid way through 2005, marking a welcome return to competition for one of motorsports most colourful, and dramatic, racing champions.
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