EUROPEAN TOURING CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT AT MAGNY-COURS THE ALFA 156 HOLDS ON TO ITS LEAD WITH TARQUINI

Gabriele Tarquini, driving an Alfa 156, still leads the race for the drivers' title in the European Touring Championship, from the German drivers Jorg and Dirk Muller (BMW) and his team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi. At the third event in the European Touring season, held at the French circuit of Magny-Cours, the three Alfa Romeo 156 Autodeltas honourably held off the attacks of their rivals on a circuit that is particularly difficult for front-wheel drive cars. In spite of the handicap of 40 kg ballast on Tarquini and Giovanardi's cars, and of 10 kg on Farfus' car - imposed by regulations following the double one-two-three at Valencia - Tarquini still won second and fifth places, while the 20-year-old Brazilian Augusto Farfus was on the podium twice, thanks to two third places. Giovanardi took fourth and fifth place to confirm his position right behind the leaders.

The drivers of Team Autodelta had more trouble than necessary on the Saturday, and Farfus, Tarquini and Giovanardi were sixth, seventh and eighth respectively at the end of the qualifying. But during the race the Alfa 156s exploited their superior handling and managed to fight back. In race 1, in particular, Farfus got off to a good start and shot into third place, behind Dirk and Jorg Muller, holding on to this position to the end of the race, ahead of the Spaniard Garcia (BMW) and his own team-mates Tarquini and Giovanardi. In race 2 Giovanardi was fast from the start and passed Gené's Seat, soon imitated by Tarquini and Farfus. The three Alfa Romeo drivers then set off after the British driver Priaulx (BMW). In an all-out effort, Tarquini and Farfus overtook Giovanardi to finish in second and third place.

We should also mention the success of the Austrian Bartyan, who was the first of the independent drivers in race 1 with an Alfa 156 entered by Team Oregon.

There were 22,000 spectators at Magny-Cours. The next event in the European Touring calendar and the European Alfa Challenge will be run at Hochenheim on May 15 and 16.


European Touring Championship

Race 1 results:
1. D. Muller (BMW), 12 laps in 22'14.381"; 2. J. Muller (BMW) 0.771"; 3. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 9.158"; 4. Garcia (BMW) 10.358"; 5. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) 11.030"; 6. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) 19.138"; 7. Gené (Seat) 19.790"; 8. Priaulx (BMW) 20.121"; 9. Bartyan (Alfa Romeo) 30.864"; 10. D'Aste (BMW) 31.174".

Race 2 results:
1. Priaulx (BMW), 12 laps in 22'14.529"; 2. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) 5.001"; 3. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 6.236"; 4. J. Muller 9.272"; 5. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) 10.150"; 6. D. Muller (BMW) 12.182"; 7. Mollekens (BMW) 14.491"; 8. Coronel (BMW) 16.715"; 9. D'Aste (BMW) 17.893"; 10. Balzan (Honda) 19.843".

European Touring Championship Drivers' title
1. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) 40 points; 2. J. Muller (BMW) 35; 3. D. Muller (BMW) 34; 4. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) 33; 5. Priaulx (BMW) 31; 6. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 24.

European Touring Championship Constructors' title
1. BMW 80 points; 2. Alfa Romeo 78; 3. Seat 10.


EUROPEAN ALFA CHALLENGE AT MAGNY-COURS

The two races run on the French circuit of Magny-Cours, the third of the six events in the European Alfa Challenge, were both won by Maurizio Campani, who crossed the finish in front of the Spanish driver Villamil and Iacone in race 1, and the Irishman Murray and Iacone again in race 2. After this event young Simone Iacone tops the leader board both overall and in the Under 25 category.


RACE 1

The first race in the Alfa Challenge was divided into two parts: very spectacular in the first, with numerous incidents, quieter in the second, with many drivers concentrating on maintaining their positions.

The Portuguese driver Jose Joao Magalhaes was in pole position, with Andrea Larini next to him. Campani got away well from the second row, overtaking Larini to get in behind Magalhaes. Larini was third, while behind him an exciting struggle developed between Villamil, Bertram, Murray and Iacone. The race leader had to retire on the third lap and Campani took the lead. Villamil passed Larini. Bertram overshot the last straight, touching Larini who held on, only to be forced into a spin by Murray on the next lap. Murray was penalised with a stop and go for this manoeuvre, and Iacone was able to take third place.

Halfway through the race Maurizio Campani was alone in the lead, in front of Villamil, Iacone and Bertram. They maintained these positions to the end, when Iacone launched a last, desperate but unsuccessful attack on the Spanish driver. Fantini finished fifth.


RACE 2

The line-up was based on the result of the previous race, with Campani in pole position and Villamil next to him. At the green light, Bertram surprised Iacone, while Larini jumped the gun and was penalised with a stop and go. On the next lap Bertram passed Villamil too, into second place. The two fought it out in the next lap leapfrogging each other, then Villamil slowed down on the fifth lap and was passed by Chacon, Iacone and Murray. There was no holding the latter and he moved into third place on the sixth lap, while Iacone passed Chacon. On the ninth lap Campani, Bertram, Murray and Iacone were all bumper to bumper, then in the tenth lap Murray passed Bertram, who was also passed by Iacone on the next lap. The first three reached the last bend together, Campani overshot the mark but was still able to keep just ahead of Murray and Iacone, who were right behind.


Race 1 results Magny-Cours
1. Campani, 12 laps in 23'43.210"; 2. Villamil 3.181"; 3. Iacone 3.985"; 4. Bertram 5.437"; 5. Fantini 10.260"; 6. Armetta 13.878"; 7. Brogi 16.944"; 8. Chacon 17.329"; 9. Giraudi 17.725"; 10. Roda 19.686".

Race 2 results Magny-Cours
1. Campani, 12 laps in 23'35.177"; 2. Murray 0.213"; 3. Iacone 0.780"; 4. Bertram 1.089"; 5. Chacon 3.900"; 6. Villamil 4.644"; 7. Fantini 5.414"; 8. Heino 16.490"; 9. Armetta 18.581"; 10. Roda 19.341".

European Alfa Challenge overall placings
1. Iacone 208 points; 2. Bertram 196; 3. Campani 193; 4. Coronel 126; 5. Chacon 122; 6. Villamil 121; 7. Murray 117; 8. Heino 106; 9. Brogi 96; 10. Jirik and Armetta 88.

Under 25 placings
1. Iacone 208 points; 2. Bertram 196; 3. Chacon 122; 4. Murray 117; 5. Heino 106; 6. Fantini 68; 7. Bonacini 56; 8. Marchetti 53.

Team placings
1. PRS Group 351 points; 2. Orbit Autosport 322; 3. Antonelli Sport 320; 4. C&C Racing Team 258; 5. PFM Sport 256.

Rookies placings
1. Chacon 122 points; 2. Murray 117; 3. Heino 106; 4. Brogi 96; 5. Jirik 88; 6. Giraudi 78; 7. Kisiel 66.

Twin Class placings
1. Buratti/Campani 27 points; 2. Mancin/Stanco 20.

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