Giacomo Ghermandi will return to the TCR Europe series grid next weekend, as the MM Motorsport team will add a third car for the Italian for the event, with Ghermandi joining Jacopo Cimenes and title contender Marco Butti in the all-Italian squad.

Ghermandi started the year with the team at Portimão, before focussing on his season in TCR Eastern Europe, where he took his first career victory, coincidentally at the Red Bull Ring, back in April.

Bologna-born Ghermandi’s TCR Eastern Europe title tilt came undone at the Most circuit in Czechia, where he suffered a high-speed accident and has taken the month off to recuperate, missing the following round in Slovakia.

The 40-year-old will therefore be back with TCR Europe for the next round, with MM Motorsport presenting a formidable line-up of three Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCRs on the grid.

"I'm really happy to be able to return to TCR Europe, in a top-level and very stimulating environment,” said Ghermandi.

“We had a very positive start to the (TCR Eastern Europe) season, with a victory at the Red Bull Ring in the first race, but unfortunately the accident at Most, which forced me to a month-long stop and to miss the race at Slovakiaring, completely cut me off from any chance of fighting for the TCR Eastern Europe title.

“After undergoing the necessary rehabilitation, I finally received clearance from Dr. Ceccarelli to be able to race again. Logically, I'm not yet at 100% fitness, but I want to get back as soon as possible to put the ghosts of the accident behind me and get back into the rhythm of racing before the end of the season.

“I chose the Red Bull Ring because it's a track I love and know well, where we've already achieved great results in the past. Furthermore, it was important to rejoin my team, which will already have Marco Butti, who is fighting for the championship, and Jacopo Cimenes, who did very well at Misano. From my point of view, I don't have any particular expectations, also because in the past month I've only been able to work on the physical recovery of my back without being able to train. However, I'm sure that we will be able to navigate the pack well and have fun: there will be 26 cars on the grid, and there will certainly be no shortage of excitement!"