US driver to race with Bamboo at Sonoma

Robb Holland is the first US driver to compete in the FIA World Touring Car Championship as he will drive for bamboo-engineering this weekend at Sonoma.

Holland replaces Pasquale Di Sabatino for this weekend’s round at Sonoma in California, and partners Alex MacDowall in the team’s Chevrolet Cruze.

After being a professional cyclist for the US national team, Holland switched to car racing in 2006. Since then he established himself as a podium finisher in the SSCA World Challenge for Touring Cars, winning his first race last year at the wheel of a Volvo C30.

During the current season he is recing in the British Touring Car Championship driving a Honda Civic.

“This is a very exciting weekend for me, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to join WTCC for the US event. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Chevrolet Cruze. This has been a last minute call-up, but I’m thrilled to be given the chance to show what I can do in a competitive car with a team as strong as bamboo-engineering,” Holland said.

Team Principal Richard Coleman added: “This has all come together very late and has been very short notice for Rob, but we’re all very excited. Robb brings a lot of experience to the team and we’re all very much looking forward to working with him here at Sonoma this weekend.”