Drivers' Championship
Pos. Driver Points
1 Augusto Farfus (BRA) 16
2 Jцrg Mьller (GER) 14
3 Andy Priaulx (GBR) 11
4 Dirk Mьller (GER) 10
5 Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) 8
6 Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA) 6
http://car.kak.net/bilder/alfa.sport/etcc04monza10s.jpg
The Alfa Romeo-BMW fight resumed where it had finished last year. The two Manufacturers dominated one race apiece in the opening meeting of the 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship. In the first race the AutoDelta trio - Augusto Farfus, Gabriele Tarquini and Fabrizio Giovanardi - took command, and then had a tough fight for the lead. The Brazilian youngster claimed his first ETCC win on his very debut in Touring Car competition, from his team-mates Tarquini and Giovanardi. And this was also the first win for a non-European driver since the Championship's revival in 2001.
In the second race, the BMWs of Jцrg and Dirk Mьller took the lead at the start. And the race nearly turned to be a BMW private affair when Tarquini and Giovanardi eliminated each other in a collision at the Ascari. In the second part of the race Jцrg Mьller created a gap, while a technical problem forced Dirk Mьller to slow down, and he was passed by Andy Priaulx and Farfus.
With an astonishing debut in the Championship, the 20-years old Farfus is now leading the Drivers' Championship. However the results of both races remain provisional, pending technical scrutineering on his Alfa Romeo 156 S2000.
SEAT had a good start of the season, scoring points in both races; Tom Coronel claimed two wins in the Independents Trophy at the wheel of his Carly Motors BMW.
Race 1 report from Monza
Safety-car in on the opening lap - At the start the two BMWs of Dirk and Jцrg Mьller jumped from the second row to the lead, chased by Augusto Farfus. Salvatore Tavano, placed in 11th position, stalled the engine and was violently hit from behind by Carl Rosenblad's BMW. Both cars were badly damaged, and the Race Director called the safety-car in, while Tavano was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. He was soon dismissed.
Alfa drivers' attack after the green flag - The race restarted at the end of the third lap. Farfus attacked J. Mьller at the first chicane, then he and Tarquini both passed the German at the braking of Lesmo. This action cost J. Mьller two further positions, in benefit of Priaulx and Giovanardi. The latter overtook the Briton at the Ascari, forming an Alfa Romeo trio in chase of D. Mьller. Rangoni retired on the third lap after a collision with Rydell.
Three Alfa cars in the lead - On lap 5, Farfus took the lead, overtaking D. Mьller at the first chicane. During the same lap, Dirk lost second position to Tarquini (at Lesmo) and the third to Giovanardi (at Ascari). Zanardi was fighting for ninth position with the three SEATs of Genй, Rydell and Morbidelli.
Tarquini and Giovanardi in close fight - On lap 6, J. Mьller overtook Priaulx for fith position, while Giovanardi dived inside Tarquini at the Parabolica. The two Alfa cars clashed, and Giovanardi managed to steal second place from his team-mate. Asch's Ford Focus retired with clutch problems. Zanardi moved up to ninth, overtaking Rydell and Genй. Giovanardi was shown a black and white flag, due to his manoeuvre. On lap 7 Tarquini recovered second place, only to lose it again to Giovanardi on the following lap.
Farfus leads an Alfa Romeo 1-2-3 - On the last lap, Tarquini managed to pass Giovanardi for good. Farfus took the chequered flag first, with a very narrow margin ahead of his team-mate. D. Mьller led home a BMW quartet, followed by J. Mьller, Priaulx and Coronel, who won the Independents' race. Diefenbacher was classified eight, and scored one point for SEAT. Zanardi finished ninth, from Genй, Rydell and Morbidelli. Proteam Motorsport rookie D'Aste finished 14th overall and second of the Independents.
ETCC - Monza, 28th March 2004 - Race 1:
POS DRIVER TEAM CAR Laps Elapsed Time Av. Speed\Gap
1 Augusto Farfus (BRA) AutoDelta Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 9 21:13.214 146.54 kph
2 Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) AutoDelta Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 9 21:13.375 0.161
3 Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA) AutoDelta Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 9 21:13.511 0.29
Race 2 report from Monza
Hara-kiri for Tarquini and Giovanardi - Diefenbacher's SEAT was on pole on the reverse grid. Coronel made the best start and turned first into the chicane, followed by Diefenbacher and D. Mьller. The latter overtook Diefenbacher at Lesmo, moving up to second. Giovanardi and Tarquini were in a close fight while chasing the leading pack, and when the field arrived at the Ascari they collided. Tarquini, on the inside, hit Giovanardi and crashed into the barriers; his team-mate went off in the gravel and rejoined at the back of the field. Zanardi, who was closely following them, spun in avoidance. Harrison also went off at the Parabolica, and remained stranded in the gravel. Before the end of the lap, J. Mьller jumped into second, overtaking both Diefenbacher and D. Mьller.
Four BMWs in the lead - On lap 2, J. Mьller took the lead, passing Coronel. Dirk Mьller and Diefenbacher were in a tough fight for third, which enabled Priaulx to pass the SEAT driver. Morbidelli retired after a collision with Rangoni. On lap 3, Coronel slipped down to fourth, having been passed by D. Mьller and Priaulx. On lap 4, Priaulx stole second place from D. Mьller. Farfus was quickly recovering, moving up to sixth, right behind Diefenbacher.
J. Mьller creates a gap - On lap 5, Priaulx and D. Mьller were fighting for the second position; Diefenbacher and Farfus were doing the same for the fifth. On lap 6, Farfus overtook Diefenbacher, then Coronel, and closed on to the Priaulx-D. Mьller pair. Giovanardi retired due to his accident with Tarquini. All this fighting helped J. Mьller to create a gap in the lead. Grunert retired with a broken driveshaft. On lap 7. D. Mьller was on the tail of Priaulx's car, when Farfus attacked them both. The Alfa and Dirk's BMW clashed at the exit of the La Roggia chicane, and the Brazilian moved up to third. Garcнa overtook Genй for seventh position.
Two SEATs in the points - In the two last laps, Farfus desperately tried to steal second position from Priaulx, but the Briton closed all the gaps and crossed the line 3.2 seconds behind race-winner J. Mьller. D. Mьller was classified fourth, despite a differential failure, followed by Coronel who won again the Independents' race. At the last corner, Diefenbacher recovered the sixth position from Garcнa, while Genй was classified eight. D'Aste obtained a brilliant ninth (second of the Independents), ahead of Zanardi, who overtook Rydell on the last lap.
ETCC - Monza, - Race 2:
POS DRIVER TEAM CAR Laps Elapsed Time Av. Speed\Gap
1 Jцrg Mьller (GER) BMW Team Deutschland BMW 320i 9 18:11.840 170.88 kph
2 Andy Priaulx (GBR) BMW Team Great Britain BMW 320i 9 18:15.073 3.233
3 Augusto Farfus (BRA) AutoDelta Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 9 18:16.548 4.708
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