Fabrizio Giovanardi set the fastest time in Vallelunga yesterday, where Autodelta joined JAS Motorsport and BMW Team Italy-Spain to kick off a multi-day test program.

The factory Alfa Romeo outfit are looking to bounce back after a promising start to the season has recently degenerated into a recent run of poor results.

A strong showing in the next round at Donington Park later this month is vital if they are to claw back some of the deficit that has built up.

Also present at the Italian track were JAS Motorsport who invited Nicola Larini to take the wheel of their Honda Accord Euro R. Larini, who was a regular ETCC racer for Alfa Romeo until the end of last season, completed a number of laps, suggesting set-up solutions and clocking promising lap times.

“The car has a good potential, however its development is clearly limited by budget reasons. With a proper backing from the Manufacturer it could easily become a winner,” the Italian driver commented.

“We invited Nicola to test,” JAS team manager Stefano Fini explained “because we wanted to benefit from his vast experience, collecting some useful information to develop the car further. And indeed he gave us some interesting suggestions.”

Alessandro Balzan, JAS regular driver in the ETCC, drove after Larini and said: “I like the way he has set the car up. It would be very useful having Nicola as a master at the races.”