Roberto Ravaglia
Roberto Ravaglia ( born May 26, 1957 in Venice ) is an Italian former race car driver. He was the first World Touring Car champion in history. He has succeeded, which is reserved for a very small group of racing drivers: He celebrated both as a driver and as a team chief with great success.
Career
Early in his touring car career continued Ravaglia on the brand BMW. A connection that continues today. His first major appearance was the Italians in 1984, when he took part in the 635 CSi age of 27 in a BMW in the European Touring Car Championship. Only two years later he took on the same vehicle the European title. In 1987 he was the undisputed career highlight was winning the World Touring Car Championship on the BMW M3.
In the following years Ravaglia won in almost every discipline in which he competed. The title in the German Touring Car Championship in a BMW M3 (1989 ) followed, among other triumphs at the endurance classics at Spa- Francorchamps (BMW 318i, 1994) and at the Nürburgring (BMW 320i, 1995). By the end of his active career in 1997 Ravaglia celebrated a total of 52 victories and was 136 more times on the podium.
In 2000 he returned as team manager of the BMW Team Italy -Spain back in the European Touring Car Championship. Since 2005, he joined with his team successfully in the World Touring Car Championship.