Riccardo Patrese returns to active duty for Spa 24 Hours!

Six-time Grand Prix winner Riccardo Patrese will be returning to active duty next week when he races in the 2018 Spa 24 Hours.

The 64-year-old Italian, whose career in F1 spanned 16 years and included wins with Brabham and Williams, has succumbed to a temptation from Honda Racing and will share a Honda NSX GT3 at Spa with another familiar F1 name: Loic Depailler, the 44-year-old son of Grand Prix winner Patrick Depailler.

The pair will be joined at the classic endurance event by Bertrand Baguette and Esteban Guerrieri.

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Patrese, whose racing credentials also include great success in sports car racing in the 1980s with Lancia, says he is more than happy to exit his leisurely retreat for a one-off with Honda at the prestigious Spa event, having sampled his mount recently at the Ardennes track.

"Spa-Francorchamps has been one of my favourite circuits for a long, long time," Patrese said.

"I thought I’d raced there for the last time 25 years ago, so when I was given the opportunity to join Castrol Honda Racing and drive such an exciting car as the NSX GT3, I couldn’t say no.

"The car handles very well and is nice to drive in the high-speed sections as well as the slower corners.

"I haven’t had too much seat time in the car yet so I’m re-learning things every time I complete another lap, but I’m excited about the race the car and to work again with a team and breathe in the atmosphere of a race."

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