Italian giant Fiat is...

Italian giant Fiat is ramping up its motorsport ambitions as it considers an official entry into the World Touring Car Championship.

“We’d like to see the new Bravo in the WTCC. We are seriously considering it,” said a Fiat source. The firm is also believed to be linking up with five-time MotoGP champ Valentino Rossi as the main sponsor of the factory Yamaha bike team.

INDYCAR team owner Michael Andretti is to enter this year’s Indianapolis 500 race. The Andretti Green Racing boss finished third in a one-off start last year, although he is yet to win in 15 attempts.

He is set to drive his team’s fifth car alongside his son Marco, female racer Danica Patrick, veteran Scot Dario Franchitti and former champ Tony Kanaan.

THE Toro Rosso Formula One team is still refusing to reveal its full driver line-up for the coming season. Speaking at the launch of the outfit’s latest Ferrari-powered STR02, team boss Franz Tost confirmed Vitantonio Liuzzi would be racing at the season opener in Australia, but would not be drawn on whether American Scott Speed would join the Italian in 2007. “Tonio’s our driver for this year, but there are still contractual issues to sort out with Scott,” said Tost.The Austrian also dismissed ongoing speculation over the legality of Toro Rosso’s latest STR02, claiming it was very different from its sister team’s new Red Bull RB3. Both cars were penned by Adrian Newey, and current F1 rules state teams must design their own chassis. “It’s definitely not the same car,” Tost added. “It’s very easy to see that a lot of stuff is different.”

BRITISH young gun Ben Hanley has signed up to follow in the footsteps of Renault F1 ace Heikki Kovalainen.

The 22-year-old has been confirmed as a member of Renault’s Driver Development Programme. He will compete in the Formula Three Euroseries, where he hopes to be the fourth Brit in a row to take the prestigious title after Jamie Green, Lewis Hamilton and Paul di Resta.