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20 Nov 2005
WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP IN MACAO (CHINA) ALFA ROMEO CLOSES THE SEASON WITH A WIN FROM FARFUS GIOVANARDI IS THIRD IN THE DRIVERSf CHAMPIONSHIP
The first edition of the World Touring Car Championship was concluded on the city circuit of Macao (China). Young Brazilian Augusto Farfus defended the Alfa Romeo Racing Team colours in the last event of the season, scoring a fantastic victory in race 1, on a circuit that was one of the most difficult and unusual of the season. Farfus held off the assaults of Priaulxfs BMW and Rydellfs Seat. The Brazilian then took fourth place in race 2, with the victory going to Huismann, in a BMW. The high point of the weekend in Macao was the announcement of the winners of the World Driversf and Manufacturersf titles. Fabrizio Giovanardi, who was among the contenders for the title, closed in third place (Priaulx was the winner, and D. Muller runner-up, both for BMW): his chance of winning the title vanished in the eighth lap of race 1. Giovanardi hit the guardrail while he was in sixth place, and the damage to his car prevented him from concluding the race and competing in race 2. The final Driversf standings were therefore Priaulx, D. Muller, Giovanardi, Farfus, J. Muller, Rydell, Tarquini and Thompson, in that order. In other words, four Alfa drivers in the first ten places. Alfa Romeo was also runner-up in the Manufacturersf title race, behind BMW, and in front of Seat and Chevrolet.
"I was in the running for the title right down to the last event,h declared Giovanardi at the end of race 1, gand personally I am very satisfied. I am sorry I was unable to fight right to the end of the two races, but third place in the championship, with four wins and one pole position, are a more than positive result for me.h
The dangers of Macao did not ignore the other Alfa Romeo drivers. Briton James Thompson (seventh in race 1) had to retire in race 2; local driver Andre Couto also hit the guardrail (in the second lap of race 1 when he was in the lead), while Gabriele Tarquini was unable to start either race because of an accident during qualification. The damage done to his car was such that routine repairs would not have guaranteed the safety of the driver (who was unscathed during the accident).
At the end of the ten races in the championship, the Alfa Romeo Racing Team, with the Alfa 156 and its drivers, can be proud of its achievements. Starting with 5 pole positions (Silverstone, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Oschersleben and Istanbul) and ending with 8 wins. The races on the circuits in Monza, Silverstone, Imola, Puebla, Spa-Francorchamps, Istanbul and Macao were won by James Thompson, Gabriele Tarquini, Fabrizio Giovanardi (three consecutive), Tarquini and Giovanardi again, and finally Farfus, in that order. Giovanardi was also the driver with the most wins in the championship.
The Alfa 156 thus concludes its successful racing career. It has been an amazing experience, with a long series of successes in 8 years of top class competition. Since 1998, the Alfa Romeo saloon has won 12 absolute titles in touring car championships, including four consecutive Manufacturersf and Driversf titles in the European 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 championships. It has disputed 169 races, winning 75 and taking 45 pole positions.
Turin, November 20, 2005
Race 1 results:
1. Farfus (Alfa Romeo), 9 laps in 42' 11.373; 2. Priaulx (BMW) + 0.496; 3. Rydell (Seat) + 1.698; 4. Larini (Chevrolet) + 4.427; 5. Menu (Chevrolet) + 13.706; 6. Huismann (BMW) + 14.287; 7. Thompson (Alfa Romeo) + 14.440; 8. Terting (Seat) + 15.172.
Race 2 results:
1. Huismann (BMW), 9 laps in 37' 51.579; 2. Priaulx (BMW) + 0.257; 3. Menu (Chevrolet) + 1.253; 4. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) + 2.428; 5. Zanardi (BMW) + 3.179; 6. Gene (Seat) + 3.575; 7. Terting (Seat) + 4.193; 8. Rydell (Seat) + 4.969
Final standings, World Touring Car Championship
Drivers:
1. Priaulx (BMW) 101 points; 2. D. Muller (BMW) 86; 3. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) 81; 4. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 64; 5. J. Muller (BMW) 59; 6. Rydell (Seat); 7. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) 55; 8. Thompson (Alfa Romeo) 53; 9. Garcia (BMW) 51; 10. Zanardi (BMW) 35.
Manufacturers:
1. BMW 273 points; 2. Alfa Romeo 236; 3. Seat 184; 4. Chevrolet 75.
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"I was in the running for the title right down to the last event,h declared Giovanardi at the end of race 1, gand personally I am very satisfied. I am sorry I was unable to fight right to the end of the two races, but third place in the championship, with four wins and one pole position, are a more than positive result for me.h
The dangers of Macao did not ignore the other Alfa Romeo drivers. Briton James Thompson (seventh in race 1) had to retire in race 2; local driver Andre Couto also hit the guardrail (in the second lap of race 1 when he was in the lead), while Gabriele Tarquini was unable to start either race because of an accident during qualification. The damage done to his car was such that routine repairs would not have guaranteed the safety of the driver (who was unscathed during the accident).
At the end of the ten races in the championship, the Alfa Romeo Racing Team, with the Alfa 156 and its drivers, can be proud of its achievements. Starting with 5 pole positions (Silverstone, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Oschersleben and Istanbul) and ending with 8 wins. The races on the circuits in Monza, Silverstone, Imola, Puebla, Spa-Francorchamps, Istanbul and Macao were won by James Thompson, Gabriele Tarquini, Fabrizio Giovanardi (three consecutive), Tarquini and Giovanardi again, and finally Farfus, in that order. Giovanardi was also the driver with the most wins in the championship.
The Alfa 156 thus concludes its successful racing career. It has been an amazing experience, with a long series of successes in 8 years of top class competition. Since 1998, the Alfa Romeo saloon has won 12 absolute titles in touring car championships, including four consecutive Manufacturersf and Driversf titles in the European 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 championships. It has disputed 169 races, winning 75 and taking 45 pole positions.
Turin, November 20, 2005
Race 1 results:
1. Farfus (Alfa Romeo), 9 laps in 42' 11.373; 2. Priaulx (BMW) + 0.496; 3. Rydell (Seat) + 1.698; 4. Larini (Chevrolet) + 4.427; 5. Menu (Chevrolet) + 13.706; 6. Huismann (BMW) + 14.287; 7. Thompson (Alfa Romeo) + 14.440; 8. Terting (Seat) + 15.172.
Race 2 results:
1. Huismann (BMW), 9 laps in 37' 51.579; 2. Priaulx (BMW) + 0.257; 3. Menu (Chevrolet) + 1.253; 4. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) + 2.428; 5. Zanardi (BMW) + 3.179; 6. Gene (Seat) + 3.575; 7. Terting (Seat) + 4.193; 8. Rydell (Seat) + 4.969
Final standings, World Touring Car Championship
Drivers:
1. Priaulx (BMW) 101 points; 2. D. Muller (BMW) 86; 3. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) 81; 4. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 64; 5. J. Muller (BMW) 59; 6. Rydell (Seat); 7. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) 55; 8. Thompson (Alfa Romeo) 53; 9. Garcia (BMW) 51; 10. Zanardi (BMW) 35.
Manufacturers:
1. BMW 273 points; 2. Alfa Romeo 236; 3. Seat 184; 4. Chevrolet 75.
IMAGES WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
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