Alfa Romeo dominates European Touring Car Champs

Alfa Romeo's Domination Of The European Touring Car Championship Continues With A Double 1-2 In Round Eight

The Alfa Romeo 156 GTA has continued its steam roller domination of the 2002 FIA European Touring Car Championship with an emphatic 1-2 finish in both races in Round Eight of the series held at Pergusa, Italy.

Starting from pole position, Fabrizio Giovanardi won both Race 1 and Race 2 in his Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, while second place was filled by the Alfa Romeos driven by Nicola Larini in race one and Roberto Colciago in race two, who was contesting his first race in the Alfa 156 GTA.

In race one Giovanardi and Larini started from the first row but the BMW of Dirk Muller took the lead with a flying start. However after just two corners Giovanardi reeled in the BMW and took the lead, keeping it so he could record his seventh win of this season. He also added the fastest lap of race one to his account. Larini, also overtaken by Muller at the start, was held in third position until the ninth lap when his relentless attack on the BMW driver was rewarded with second place.

As per the race rules which require a reverse grid for race two from the top six finishers of race one, Larini and Giovanardi started from the third row in Race two. But this did not stop Giovanardi leaping to third place from the start. By lap three he was in second place behind Muller's BMW, and on lap six he took the lead, keeping it to the finish.

Alfa Romeo has now won 12 races in the 2002 FIA European Touring Car Championship, with eight of the wins having Giovanardi's name along side them. Alfa Romeo dominates the championship with 196 points to BMW's total of 141, with Giovandardi and Larini leading the driver's title race with 106 and 85 points respectively.

Next round of FIA European Touring Car Championship will be in Donington (UK), on Sunday 6th October.

Race 1 Results: 1. Giovanardi (Alfa 156 GTA) 11 laps in 20'05"478; 2. Larini (Alfa 156 GTA) at 1"804; 3. D.Muller (BMW) at 3"810; 4 J.Muller (BMW) at 11"051; 5. Ekblom (BMW) at 15"083; de Simone (BMW) at 20"584.

Race 2 Results : 1. Giovanardi (Alfa 156 GTA) 11 laps in 20'13"874; 2. Colciago (Alfa 156 GTA) at 1"777; 3. J.Muller (BMW) at 2"704; 4. Larini (Alfa 156 GTA) 3"357 at 16"292; 5. Ekblom (BMW) at 7"808; 6. D.Muller at 14"016.

FIA European Touring Car Championship (After 16 Races/8 Rounds)

Manufacturers': 1. Alfa Romeo points 196; 2. BMW 141; 3. Volvo 47.

Drivers': 1. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) points 106; 2. Larini (Alfa Romeo) 85; 3. J.Muller (BMW) 68; 4. D. Muller (BMW) 58; 5. Rydell (Volvo) 41.

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