Massa to make race return this weekend 26 Nov 2009
He may have to wait until next year to make his Formula One return, but Ferrari’s Felipe Massa will get the chance to sharpen his racing skills at his annual International Challenge of the Stars karting event in Brazil this weekend. It will be the first time Massa has driven competitively since he fractured his skull during an accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix back in July.
The Brazilian will be joined at the charity fundraiser by a host of famous motorsport names including seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, 2010 Williams driver Rubens Barrichello, Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi, former Williams’ driver Antonio Pizzonia, 2004 Indycar champion Tony Kanaan and ex-F1 driver Christian Fittipaldi.
Former Renault driver - and fellow Brazilian - Nelson Piquet will also be in action and can’t wait to get started. “I’m happy that I can be back in Brazil to do Felipe’s race this weekend,” said the 24 year-old. “It’s going to be very competitive as usual, there are some great drivers confirmed and I want to try to win it this year!”
Both Schumacher and Piquet should be well prepared. Only last weekend they went up against some of the world’s best karters at the SKUSA Supernationals in Las Vegas, USA, finishing the final an impressive seventh and eighth respectively.
The Challenge of the Stars was launched by Massa in 2005. Last year it was won by Barrichello, whilst in 2007 Schumacher clinched the honours. In 2006 Massa himself secured the winner’s trophy. This year’s on-track action will get underway at a brand new circuit in the Brazilian city of Florianopolis on Saturday.
