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Villeneuve's busy season will include one 'quite important' moment

Jacques Villeneuve will step out of retirement this year and indulge in a double racing programme, one of which will lead him to an "important" moment in his life.

The 1997 F1 world champion and Sky Italia pundit will dovetail his involvement in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series with several races in the Italian GT Endurance Championship where he will driver a Ferrari 488 GT3.

Villeneuve to make racing comeback in NASCAR Euro Series

"My priority goes to the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series," Villeneuve told Motorsport.com. "For that reason, I won’t be contesting all the endurance races of the Italian championship."

The official NASCAR series in Europe will kick off at Valencia in Spain on April 13 and conclude 16 races later in Belgium, at Zolder, a venue of significance for Villeneuve, for obvious reasons.

"The last two rounds of the NASCAR Euro Series will be held on one weekend in Zolder, Belgium. For me, it’s a race not to be missed," added the Canadian.

"It was on the Zolder circuit that Gilles drove for the last time and lost his life. I’ve never been there. It's quite important to me."

©NascarWhelenEuroSeries

As for his foray into the Italian GT championship, Villeneuve's Scuderia Baldini Ferrari will be emblazoned this season with the family's historic number '27'.

"I’m happy to drive a Ferrari," he said. "As for the race number, personally, I prefer the 12 to the 27.

"Gilles lost his life in a car that carried the number 27, but at the same time I won the Indy 500 in a car that carried the number 27."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.