I’m a double Premier League title winner but now I’m branching out into new sport after injury hell

THIBAUT Courtois has revved up his off-field career – by founding a motorsports team.

The former Chelsea keeper, now with Real Madrid, has set up TC Racing.

AP

Thibaut Courtois has founded his own racing team[/caption]

The team received its licence on Thursday from the Spanish Automobile Federation and will compete in Formula 4 next year.

Courtois, 31, has hired ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi as team principal.

The Spaniard, 32, took part in 13 Grand Prix races for Marussia in 2015.

Belgium international Courtois posted a promotional film for the team on Instagram, announcing: “Here we are.”

He has yet to nominate TC Racing’s drivers for the 2024 season.

F4 recruits young drivers from the world of go-karting among others, and trains them towards an F1 career.

The Spanish F4 championship includes five races on home soil, plus further events in Belgium and Portugal.

Courtois won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, in 2015 and 2017.

He also helped the Blues lift an FA Cup and a League Cup.

Signed from Genk in 2011, he spent three successful seasons on loan to Atletico Madrid before making his name at Stamford Bridge.

Real Madrid paid £35million for the 6ft 6ins keeper five years ago.

Courtois has since won eight major trophies with Los Blancos, including the Champions League and two La Liga titles.

He is currently sidelined following a knee operation in August.