ALFA ROMEO THE TEAM TO BEAT IN THE NEW WORLD TOURING CAR CHANPIONSHIP
Alfa Romeo will be the team to beat when the inaugural World Touring Car Championship gets underway at the Monza race track in Italy on 10 April after two of its drivers set fastest times in the first official test programme for the 2005 WTCC cars.
Up against teams from BMW, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and SEAT as well as a total of 33 drivers, Alfa Romeo’s Augusto Farfus put in the fastest lap time in his Alfa Romeo 156, seven tenths of a second faster than teammate and former ETCC champion, Gabriele Tarquini.
“Once again the Monza circuit brought out the best in me and with the Alfa 156 I always manage to achieve excellent times,” said Farfus after the two day test at the historic Monza track where he won his first ever European race in 2003. “In fast sections the powerful engine and excellent aerodynamics help us to be the fastest.”
Dirk Müller set the third fastest time, the best of the BMW cars, while Roberto Colciago’s JAS Motorsport Honda Civic (8th fastest), and Jordi Gené’s SEAT Toledo Cupra (10th fastest) were the only cars to break the Alfa Romeo-BMW front in the top ten. Most of the drivers improved consistently over the two days, and Stefano D’Aste emerged as the best of the Independents, setting an excellent 13th fastest time in his Proteam Motorsport BMW 320i. Gianluca De Lorenzi remained the fastest of the Italian Championship’s competitors, despite missing the second half of the day due to a crash at the Ascari. A probable brake failure put his BMW into the barriers, but the driver escaped with only a sore neck.
Combined list of times – Day 1 and 2
1) Farfus, Alfa – 1:58.783
2) Tarquini, Alfa – 1:59.094
3) D. Müller, BMW – 1:59.335
4) J. Müller, BMW – 1:59.525
5) Thompson, Alfa – 1:59.681
6) Giovanardi, Alfa – 1:59.707
7) García, BMW – 1:59.807
8) Colciago, Honda – 1:59.841
9) Priaulx, BMW – 2:00.100
10) Gené, SEAT – 2:00.163
11) Rydell, SEAT – 2:00.166
12) Zanardi, BMW – 2:00.178
13) D’Aste, BMW – 2:00.193
14) Terting, SEAT – 2:00.463
15) De Lorenzi, BMW – 2:00.613
16) Tavano, Alfa – 2:00.885
17) A. Larini, Alfa – 2:01.219
18) Rosenblad, BMW – 2:01.345
19) Engström, Honda – 2:01.595
20) Cirò, BMW – 2:01.660
21) De Micheli, Honda – 2:01.964
22) Valli, BMW – 2:02.719
23) Lacko, BMW – 2:02.974
24) Menu, Chevrolet – 2:03.018
25) Othla, Honda – 2:03.273
26) Huff, Chevrolet – 2:03.411
27) N. Larini, Chevrolet – 2:03.515
28) Lacko, Alfa – 2:04.425
29) Klenke, Ford – 2:04.574
30) Jäger, Ford – 2:04.828
31) Balzan, SEAT – 2:04.837
32) Borgudd, Honda – 2:08.617
33) Hellström, Honda – 2:08.688
(ends)
For further information, please contact
Kevin Wall
/ Tel: (02) 9558 7111General Manager / Fax: (02) 9558 7722
Alfa Romeo Australia / E:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: (02) 9558 7111Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 9558 7772
Alfa Romeo Australia / Mob: 0407 913 244
E:
Alfa Romeo Media web site: http://media.ateco.com.au/