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 Jörg and Dirk Müller 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 Jörg Müller created a gap, while a technical problem forced Dirk Müller 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.

Race 1

At the start the two BMWs of Dirk and Jörg Müller 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.

The race restarted at the end of the third lap. Farfus attacked J. Müller at the first chicane, then he and Tarquini both passed the German at the braking of Lesmo. This action cost J. Müller 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. Müller. Rangoni retired on the third lap after a collision with Rydell.

On lap 5, Farfus took the lead, overtaking D. Müller 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 Gené, Rydell and Morbidelli.

On lap 6, J. Müller 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 Gené. 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.

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. Müller led home a BMW quartet, followed by J. Müller, Priaulx and Coronel, who won the Independents’ race. Diefenbacher was classified eight, and scored one point for SEAT. Zanardi finished ninth, from Gené, Rydell and Morbidelli. Proteam Motorsport rookie D’Aste finished 14th overall and second of the Independents.

Race 2

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. Müller. 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. Müller jumped into second, overtaking both Diefenbacher and D. Müller.

On lap 2, J. Müller took the lead, passing Coronel. Dirk Müller 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. Müller and Priaulx. On lap 4, Priaulx stole second place from D. Müller. Farfus was quickly recovering, moving up to sixth, right behind Diefenbacher.

On lap 5, Priaulx and D. Müller 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. Müller pair. Giovanardi retired due to his accident with Tarquini. All this fighting helped J. Müller to create a gap in the lead. Grunert retired with a broken driveshaft. On lap 7. D. Müller 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. García overtook Gené for seventh position.