ALFA ROMEO CLOSES IN ON BMW IN WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Alfa Romeo’s Fabrizio Giovanardi has narrowed the gap between him and Championship leader, BMW’s Dirk Muller, after both drivers won a race each in Saturday’s (30 July 2005) thrilling round at the legendary Spa track in Belgium.
Giovanardi’s result was even the more impressive considering his Alfa Romeo 156 was carrying the biggest weight penalty.
In an action packed pair of races, Alfa’s young gun, Augusto Farfus was disqualified after an accident, robbing him of fourth place, while in race two BMW’s Stefano D’Aste though he had race two in the bag, when he over took race leader Giovanardi by cutting the chicane to avoid an accident on the very last lap. But stewards, even after taking into account the fact that had he not cut the chicane he would have hit the cars of Garcia, Tarquini an Muller, penalised him by three seconds, put the Alfa driver back on the podium top spot.
“When it started to rain between the races I was happy because with the ballast in my car and a good setup I was fast in the wet conditions in one of the practice sessions,” said Fabrizio Giovanardi at the finish – and before he was gifted first place with D’Astre demotion. “I had a lot more power than García and I thought it would be possible for me to win the second race. I was careful at the end because I had the lead and the Bus Stop corner was wet but these things happen and 2nd place is good.”
Andy Priaulx claimed the race lead off the starting line in race one. At the first corner Dirk Müller overtook team-mate Jörg Müller. SEAT Sport driver, Gené and Alfa man Tarquini made contact which resulted in the former spinning and rejoining in 19th position. Funke rolled his Ford Focus car as he was pushed wide at Combes, which meant one lap was completed under safety car conditions.
Priaulx got a good start as the safety car entered the pits while Dirk overtook Farfus to move up to second. Another BMW/Alfa Romeo battle was taking place as Jörg and Tarquini fought for fourth spot.
Lap 4 saw Plato overtake Giovanardi for 8th. However, the latter reclaimed the final point scoring position while the SEAT driver had a battle with García for 7th.
Dirk overtook Priaulx on lap 5 to take the lead but the Briton remained close and they entered lap 6 with just 0.541 seconds between them. The remaining laps were packed full of action as Priaulx tried to attain his first race win of the season, his challenge however did not come into fruition. Jörg made a move on Farfus at the last corner of the final lap and the two crossed the line side by side with smoke billowing out of Jörg’s rear right tyre. It was a BMW 1-2-3 as the front of Jörg’s car was just 0.022 of a second ahead of Farfus’s Alfa.
Coronel kept hold of his 14th place start to win the Independent category. Behind him for 15th place was Menu, the best of the Chevrolet team while the remaining Ford driven by
Klenke was 22nd. Ayari finished 24th in his Peugeot after a spin.
As the cars lined up on a damp track for race two, the reverse grid meant Giovanardi started on pole, and took the lead at the start chased by García, Tarquini and Thompson.
As the field dived down to the Eau Rouge, Priaulx, Farfus and Dirk Müller were involved in an accident. Priaulx’s car was so damaged that he had to retire, whereas Farfus and Dirk were able to rejoin.
Also in the first lap, Jörg Müller overtook Thompson for fourth and Tarquini drifted wide at a corner losing three places as he rejoined in fifth. Jörg proceeded to suffer problems and had to pay a visit to the pits. More action occurred as Hennerici and Rydell made contact, both came off the track: the Swede retired while Hennerici rejoined. Thompson pitted on lap 2 after being overtaken by many drivers.
Giovanardi looked set to secure his third victory of the season when on lap 3 Klenke was touched by Larini’s Chevrolet, which caused the Ford to skid through the Bust Stop chicane and collect Gene’s SEAT. The damage to both cars was extensive and the safety car made its second appearance of the day, this time for three laps.
The race resumed with just one lap remaining, with Giovanardi closely chased by García, Tarquini and Dirk Müller. While trying to outbrake each other at the Bus Stop, García and Tarquini clashed, involving Dirk Müller. D’Aste, who was fighting for fifth position with Coronel and Menu cut across the chicane to avoid the three spinning cars, and rejoined the track well ahead of Giovanardi.
Which eventually cost him a 3-second penaty, meaning that Giovanardi scored his third win of the year, from D’Aste, Coronel and Farfus. Dirk Müller obtained an important fifth place, while Alain Menu finished sixth and scored his first championship points.
WTCC - Spa-Francorchamps, 30th July 2005 - Race 1# / DRIVER / TEAM / CAR / Laps / Elapsed Time / Av. Speed\Gap
1 / 43 / Dirk Müller (GER) / BMW Team Deutschland / BMW 320i / 8 / 22:58.706 / 145.09 kph
2 / 1 / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW Team UK / BMW 320i / 8 / 22:58.976 / 0.270
3 / 42 / Jörg Müller (GER) / BMW Team Deutschland / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:04.154 / 5.448
DSQ / 7 / Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 23:04.176 * / 5.470
4 / 2 / Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 23:04.418 / 5.712
5 / 3 / James Thompson (GBR) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 23:04.565 / 5.859
6 / 5 / Antonio García (ESP) / BMW Team Italy-Spain / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:09.400 / 10.694
7 / 6 / Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 23:10.003 / 11.297
8 / 26 / Roberto Colciago (ITA) / JAS Motorsport / Honda Accord Euro R / 8 / 23:10.201 / 11.495
9 / 11 / Jason Plato (GBR) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 23:10.272 / 11.566
10 / 10 / Peter Terting (GER) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 23:10.671 / 11.965
11 / 8 / Rickard Rydell (SWE) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 23:12.979 / 14.273
12 / 9 / Jordi Gené (ESP) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 23:14.403 / 15.697
13 / 20 / I / Tom Coronel (NED) / GR Asia / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 23:15.035 / 16.329
14 / 23 / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Lacetti / 8 / 23:16.764 / 18.058
15 / 31 / I / Giuseppe Cirò (ITA) / Proteam Motorsport / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:21.851 / 23.145
16 / 30 / I / Stefano D´Aste (ITA) / Proteam Motorsport / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:22.361 / 23.655
17 / 22 / Nicola Larini (ITA) / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Lacetti / 8 / 23:22.914 / 24.208
18 / 32 / I / Marc Hennerici (GER) / Wiechers-Sport / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:25.273 / 26.567
19 / 19 / I / Valle Mäkelä (FIN) / GR Asia / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 23:26.366 / 27.660
20 / 33 / I / Adam Lacko (CZE) / IEP Team / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:28.688 / 29.982
21 / 14 / Thomas Klenke (GER) / Ford Hotfiel Sport / Ford Focus / 8 / 23:28.825 / 30.119
22 / 28 / I / Carl Rosenblad (SWE) / Crawford Racing / BMW 320i / 8 / 23:29.547 / 30.841
23 / 24 / Soheil Ayari (FRA) / Peugeot Sport Denmark / Peugeot 407 / 8 / 24:05.488 / 1:06.782
DNC / 21 / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Lacetti / 4 / 23:11.219 / 4 laps
DNF / 16 / Michael Funke (GER) / Ford Hotfiel Sport / Ford Focus / 0 / 8 laps
Fastest Lap / #43 Dirk MULLER, 2:33.955 on lap 5, average speed 162.42 Kph
Notes / Weather: overcast; track: dry
Safety car period, on laps 1 and 2, due to Funke´s crash
* Farfus: excluded, due to collision with Jörg Müller
WTCC - Spa-Francorchamps, 30th July 2005 - Race 2
# / DRIVER / TEAM / CAR / Laps / Elapsed Time / Av. Speed\Gap
1 / 6 / Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 27:49.757 / 119.80 kph
2 / 30 / I / Stefano D´Aste (ITA) / Proteam Motorsport / BMW 320i / 8 / 27:49.760 * / 0.003
3 / 20 / I / Tom Coronel (NED) / GR Asia / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 27:51.128 / 1.371
4 / 7 / Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 27:51.680 / 1.923
5 / 43 / Dirk Müller (GER) / BMW Team Deutschland / BMW 320i / 8 / 27:53.807 / 4.050
6 / 23 / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Lacetti / 8 / 27:57.376 / 7.619
7 / 3 / James Thompson (GBR) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 8 / 27:59.564 / 9.807
8 / 5 / Antonio García (ESP) / BMW Team Italy-Spain / BMW 320i / 8 / 27:59.826 / 10.069
9 / 32 / I / Marc Hennerici (GER) / Wiechers-Sport / BMW 320i / 8 / 28:00.335 / 10.578
10 / 10 / Peter Terting (GER) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 28:03.963 / 14.206
11 / 21 / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Lacetti / 8 / 28:04.386 / 14.629
12 / 28 / I / Carl Rosenblad (SWE) / Crawford Racing / BMW 320i / 8 / 28:04.965 / 15.208
13 / 33 / I / Adam Lacko (CZE) / IEP Team / BMW 320i / 8 / 28:05.391 / 15.634
14 / 11 / Jason Plato (GBR) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 8 / 28:07.354 / 17.597
15 / 31 / I / Giuseppe Cirò (ITA) / Proteam Motorsport / BMW 320i / 8 / 28:08.462 / 18.705
16 / 42 / Jörg Müller (GER) / BMW Team Deutschland / BMW 320i / 8 / 28:33.734 / 43.977
17 / 2 / Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) / Alfa Romeo Racing Team / Alfa Romeo 156 / 7 / 25:05.958 / 1 lap
18 / 22 / Nicola Larini (ITA) / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Lacetti / 7 / 25:13.741 / 1 lap
DNF / 26 / Roberto Colciago (ITA) / JAS Motorsport / Honda Accord Euro R / 4 / 11:56.012 / 4 laps
DNF / 9 / Jordi Gené (ESP) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 3 / 9:02.164 / 5 laps
DNF / 14 / Thomas Klenke (GER) / Ford Hotfiel Sport / Ford Focus / 3 / 9:04.034 ° / 5 laps
DNF / 19 / I / Valle Mäkelä (FIN) / GR Asia / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 1 / 3:13.881 / 7 laps
DNF / 8 / Rickard Rydell (SWE) / SEAT Sport / SEAT Toledo Cupra / 0 / 8 laps
DNF / 24 / Soheil Ayari (FRA) / Peugeot Sport Denmark / Peugeot 407 / 0 / 8 laps
DNF / 1 / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW Team UK / BMW 320i / 0 / 8 laps
Fastest Lap / #7 Augusto FARFUS, 2:42.690 on lap 8, average speed 153.70 Kph
Notes / Weather: overcast; track: wet/drying
Safety car period on laps 5 to 7, due to collision between Klenke and Gené
* D´Aste: 3-second time penalty, due to cutting a chicane
° Klenke: drive-through penalty, due to jump start
WTCC DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. / # / Driver/ Points
1 / 43 / Dirk Müller (GER)
/ 61
2 / 6 / Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA)
/ 57
3 / 1 / Andy Priaulx (GBR)
/ 50
4 / 2 / Gabriele Tarquini (ITA)
/ 43
5 / 5 / Antonio García (ESP)
/ 43
6 / 3 / James Thompson (GBR)
/ 38
7 / 7 / Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA)
/ 34
8 / 42 / Jörg Müller (GER)
/ 33
9 / 8 / Rickard Rydell (SWE)
/ 33
10 / 10 / Peter Terting (GER)
/ 17
11 / 9 / Jordi Gené (ESP)
/ 12
12 / 20 / Tom Coronel (NED)
/ 11
13 / 11 / Jason Plato (GBR)
/ 10
14 / 30 / Stefano D´Aste (ITA)
/ 8
15 / 4 / Alessandro Zanardi (ITA)
/ 6
16 / 26 / Roberto Colciago (ITA)
/ 4
17 / 21 / Robert Huff (GBR)
/ 3
18 / 23 / Alain Menu (SUI)
/ 3
19 / 22 / Nicola Larini (ITA)
/ 2
WTCC MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Pos. / Manufacturer/ Points
1 / BMW
/ 159
2 / Alfa Romeo
/ 155
3 / Seat
/ 113
4 / Chevrolet
/ 39
5 / Ford
/ 2
For further information, please contact
David StoneGeneral Manager / Tel: (02) 9701 8000
Alfa Romeo Australia / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
E:
Edward Rowe
Public Relations Manager / Tel: (02) 9701 8000
Alfa Romeo Australia / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Mob: 0407 913 244
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