Former F1 driver Fisichella to make Adelaide cameo

A Formula 1 flavour will return to the streets of Adelaide in the guise of Giancarlo Fisichella.

Former F1 driver Fisichella will compete at the VALO Adelaide 500 in the S5000 Tasman Series.

The veteran has an affinity with Australia, having made his F1 debut in Melbourne in 1996.

He won the 2005 Australian Grand Prix for Renault.

The Italian driver also raced for the likes of Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Force India and Ferrari.

In his 14-season career, Fisichella took three Grand Prix wins and 19 podium finishes.

He has since moved into GT and sports car racing, and boasts two GTE class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Fisichella is part of the Ferrari family

Most recently, Fisichella competed in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship in an Iron Lynx Ferrari.

For the first time since 2009, Fisichella will throw an open-wheeler around in Australia.

He had a chance taken away from him in 2020, when the 2020 Australian Grand Prix was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes after former F1 winner Rubens Barrichello drove an S5000 car at Sandown in 2019.

Fisichella will drive for Team BRM, which also ran Barrichello’s car.

"I am thrilled to be coming back to Australia to race S5000 – at last,” the 49-year-old said.

"After the unfortunate cancellation of the races at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, it’s like we have unfinished business to take care of.

A Team BRM S5000 car

"My Formula 1 career started literally a few weeks after the last F1 race in Adelaide.

"I have never driven on the circuit, which is now a slightly shorter version of the GP track.

“[I] am looking forward to it enormously. I expect the S5000 car will be fast there.

“I’m also thrilled to be driving with Team BRM, which has a great record in racing in Australia."

VALO Adelaide 500 Chief Executive Mark Warren added: “We are ecstatic to host ‘Fisi’ in Adelaide and have no doubt he’ll put on a show for all eventgoers, particularly the Formula 1 enthusiasts.

"Fisichella brings quality experience from his driving pursuits in Formula 1, GT and sports car racing around the world and adds to the high calibre motorsport programme.

"We’re now just under a month to go until we hit the track and this latest signing kicks off a string of big announcements we expect to roll out in the coming weeks.”

Dunlop Super2 Series, Aussie Racing Cars and Touring Car Masters complete the VALO Adelaide 500 support card.