WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP AT MAGNY COURS FARFUS QUALIFIES ON THE SECOND ROW

The Alfa Romeo 156 of Brazilian Augusto Farfus set the third best time during the qualifying session for the second event in the World Touring Car Championship which will be run tomorrow (Sunday, May 1) on the Magny Cours circuit in France. So Farfus will start on the second row, behind J. Muller (BMW) of Germany, who took pole position, and the Swede Rydell (Seat).



Gabriele Tarquini, who set the 5th time, starts on the third row, while Briton James Thompson, who won the second race in Monza and was therefore carrying 35 kg of ballast, took tenth place, ahead of Fabrizio Giovanardi who was eleventh.



Farfus was pleased with his result: 'The gaps between the leaders are very small,' the Brazilian said at the end of the practice sessions, 'and everything will depend on the race tomorrow.'



Tarquini found the circuit very slippery: 'I noticed that at the start and on the bends there are no tyre marks. The circuit is not 'worn in' yet and the asphalt is particularly slippery. Let's hope that grip is better tomorrow, after the GTs have raced for 3 hours.'



Giovanardi and Thompson also had 'grip' problems. The latter was carrying ballast when qualifying: 'With today's high temperature, I was very conscious of the ballast,' he said, 'but I am still satisfied with the way my Alfa 156 performed. I should be penalised less during the race and I hope to pick up more points for Alfa Romeo and for myself.'



Monica Sipsz, Team Manager of the Alfa Romeo Racing Team, was also satisfied: 'After the tests this Winter, in which Seat performed very well, we thought we were further from the leaders. But if we consider lap times, we are competitive even on this circuit which has not favoured us in recent years.'



There are two races on the programme tomorrow, which will start at 15.15 and 16.20.



The first of the two European Alfa Challenge races was held today, a showcase for the Alfa 147 GTA Cup. After 12 hard-fought laps, the victory went to Antonio Chacon of Spain, from the Finn Heino and Murray from Ireland. Maurizio Campani, the first of the Italians, was fourth, and he retains the lead in the Trophy.





Magny Cours, qualifying session:



1. J. Muller (BMW) 1' 49.486"; 2. Rydell (Seat) at 0.338"; 3. Farfus (Alfa Romeo 156) at 0.378"; 4. Priaulx (BMW) at 0.379"; 5. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo 156) at 0.499"; 6. Garcia (BMW) a 0.562"; 7. Terting (Seat) 0.628"; 8. Genè (Seat) at 6.646"; 9. D. Muller (BMW) at 0.719"; 10. Thompson (Alfa Romeo 156) at 1.044"; 11. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo 156) at 1.053".



Turin, April 30, 2005



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