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28 May 2005
WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP AT IMOLA THE ALFA ROMEO 156 IN POLE POSITION WITH GIOVANARDI
The qualifying session of the fourth event on the World Touring Car Championship calendar scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday May 29) at Imola was favourable to the Italians. Pole was obtained by Fabrizio Giovanardi, at the wheel of his Alfa Romeo Racing Team Alfa 156, ahead of two Spanish drivers: Garcia in the Bmw and Gené in the Seat. Excellent performances were also obtained in qualifying by the young Brazilian driver Augusto Farfus, fourth, and by Gabriele Tarquini, in spite of the fact that both of them were weighed down by heavy ballast weights as a result of their success and excellent placings in the previous races at Silverstone. Tarquini is carrying fully 55 kg (the highest of all the WTCC drivers), Farfus 30 kg.
The fourth Alfa 156, in the hands of Englishman James Thompson, who is making his first appearance on this circuit, obtained the tenth time.
Giovanardi had already obtained pole position at Imola last year too and in the actual race Alfa Romeo achieved two one-twos with Tarquini and Giovanardi.
The driver from Emilia expressed great satisfaction and said he had good vibes on this track: “I’ve always had good results here,” he said, “the outcome of really good fine-tuning work.” For Farfus this was also a very positive result: “Thirty kilos of ballast count for a lot,” he said at the end of the qualifiers, “but I’m pleased to have still put in a time that allows me to start in the second row. We’ll have to see whether, after a few laps in the race, the ballast starts taking its toll. From my point of view I think it is important to finish the two races in the points”.
Tarquini expressed the same doubts: "I’m happy with my qualifying time in any case even though it is in the race that we have to measure whether or not performance is constant ".
Tomorrow (Sunday May 29) two races on the WTCC calendar are on the programme starting at 3.10 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.
The race at Imola is also valid for the Italian Supertouring Championship in which Salvatore Tavano and Andrea Larini are taking part in DB Motorsport Alfa 156’s. Tavano, who is second in the rankings behind Alex Zanardi, obtained sixth time in the national rankings, Larini seventh.
The first of the two races of the Europe Alfa Challenge, run in Alfa 147 GTA Cup’s, was also contested. At the end of 11 laps winner was the Italian Maurizio Campani, who won by a nose from Irishman Murray. Third place was taken by the Finn Heino. Tomorrow (Sunday) the second race.
Turin, May 28, 2005
Qualifiers
1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo 156) in 1'58.573”; 2. Garcia (Bmw) at 0.586”; 3. Gené (Seat) at 0.744”; 4. Augusto Farfus (Alfa Romeo 156) at 0.804”; 5. Gabriele Tarquini (Alfa Romeo 156) at 1.021”; 6. Priaulx (Bmw) at 1.057”; 7. Colciago (Honda) at 1.086”; 8. Terting (Seat) at 1.097”, 9. D.Muller (Bmw) at 1.112”; 10. James Thompson (Alfa Romeo 156) at 1.112.
The fourth Alfa 156, in the hands of Englishman James Thompson, who is making his first appearance on this circuit, obtained the tenth time.
Giovanardi had already obtained pole position at Imola last year too and in the actual race Alfa Romeo achieved two one-twos with Tarquini and Giovanardi.
The driver from Emilia expressed great satisfaction and said he had good vibes on this track: “I’ve always had good results here,” he said, “the outcome of really good fine-tuning work.” For Farfus this was also a very positive result: “Thirty kilos of ballast count for a lot,” he said at the end of the qualifiers, “but I’m pleased to have still put in a time that allows me to start in the second row. We’ll have to see whether, after a few laps in the race, the ballast starts taking its toll. From my point of view I think it is important to finish the two races in the points”.
Tarquini expressed the same doubts: "I’m happy with my qualifying time in any case even though it is in the race that we have to measure whether or not performance is constant ".
Tomorrow (Sunday May 29) two races on the WTCC calendar are on the programme starting at 3.10 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.
The race at Imola is also valid for the Italian Supertouring Championship in which Salvatore Tavano and Andrea Larini are taking part in DB Motorsport Alfa 156’s. Tavano, who is second in the rankings behind Alex Zanardi, obtained sixth time in the national rankings, Larini seventh.
The first of the two races of the Europe Alfa Challenge, run in Alfa 147 GTA Cup’s, was also contested. At the end of 11 laps winner was the Italian Maurizio Campani, who won by a nose from Irishman Murray. Third place was taken by the Finn Heino. Tomorrow (Sunday) the second race.
Turin, May 28, 2005
Qualifiers
1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo 156) in 1'58.573”; 2. Garcia (Bmw) at 0.586”; 3. Gené (Seat) at 0.744”; 4. Augusto Farfus (Alfa Romeo 156) at 0.804”; 5. Gabriele Tarquini (Alfa Romeo 156) at 1.021”; 6. Priaulx (Bmw) at 1.057”; 7. Colciago (Honda) at 1.086”; 8. Terting (Seat) at 1.097”, 9. D.Muller (Bmw) at 1.112”; 10. James Thompson (Alfa Romeo 156) at 1.112.