» WTCC: Trouble for Scuderia Proteam?

Valmiro Presenzini, the colourful team principal of the Scuderia Proteam World Touring Car Championship outfit has had his property seized by the Italian authorities, who allege that he has committed tax fraud. It is understood that his team has been put into liquidation.

Presenzini has denied the claims, which allege that the Italian has defrauded some “several million” Euro worth of unpaid taxes over the last ten years, having set up several business structures that existed to issuing sham invoices worth some fifty million Euros, according to a report in the La Nazione newspaper.

It is understood that Presenzini’s property in Tuscany has been seized as part of the charges.

The news of the apparent liquidation of his Scuderia Proteam outfit is understandably ban news for the championship, with his team having been a front-running Independent Trophy outfit for several years.

The team has twice won the Independent Trophy Drivers’ Championship with Sergio Hérnandez in 2008 and 2010, and this year saw Javier Villa in contention for this year’s title right through to the season-ending races at Macau.

[Image via FIA WTCC Media]