29.05.2004 The fifth FIA event OF THE YEAR will be disputed tomorrow, at Brno in the Czech Republic, where the drivers of the Autodelta Racing Team will continue their title defence

The fifth event in the European Touring Car Championship will be disputed tomorrow, at Brno in the Czech Republic, where the drivers of the Autodelta Racing Team will defend the title won in 2003 by Gabriele Tarquini in his Alfa 156.

With two successful results this season, Tarquini is in third place in the drivers' championship, just behind the BMW drivers Jorg and Dirk Muller. The other two Autodelta drivers are also still in the running, with Fabrizio Giovanardi in fifth and the twenty-year-old Brazilian Augusto Farfus, this season's surprise discovery, in sixth.

Tarquini's standing would have been even better if it had not been for the two accidents which took him out of the running at Monza and at Hockenheim, where a shunt during the first lap of the first race severely hampered the results of all three Alfa Romeo drivers, who had scored a magnificent one-two-three finish in both races during the previous event in Spain, at Valencia.

As usual, the race weekend involves a qualifying session today from 3:45 to 4:15 pm, while on Sunday there will be two races, starting at 2:45 and 3:45 pm respectively.

The Alfa Romeo 156 was also very competitive in the Independent category, reserved for drivers not backed by official works teams.

Salvatore Tavano, the reigning Italian 'Superproduzione' Champion in an Alfa Romeo, has won two races, whereas his team mate, at Team Oregon, Michele Bartyan, was category winner at Hockenheim. Luca Rangoni has also proven himself to be very quick, coming close to victory on several occasions and coming second at Valencia.

European Touring Car Championship Standings

1. J.Muller (Bmw) 50; 2. D.Muller (Bmw) 48; 3. Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) 43; 4. Priaulx (Bmw) 41; 5. Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo) 33; 6. Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 24.