06.10.2004 With temperatures running at more than 35°C, Alfa Romeo's drivers joined THOSE of BMW AND SEAT for a preliminary test session at the new Dubai Autodrome this afternoon

The final two races in the 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship are being held at Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

The Dubai Autodrome was completed earlier this year and the LG Super Racing Weekend is the first major international motorsports event held there.

Following the working week in the UAE, where Friday is the day of rest, the race 'weekend' runs from today to Friday, with short shakedown sessions for the FIA ETCC cars today, free practice and qualifying session tomorrow, and the two races on Friday. With the circuit new to all drivers, it promises to be a very interesting event.

Dubai is the first race meeting outside Europe in the history of the FIA European Touring Car Championship. An appropriate prelude to next year, when the page will turn and the series will become FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The weight handicap situation sees Dirk Muller on the maximum of 40kg, while Andy Priaulx has 20kg and Jörg Muller 10kg. Other drivers carrying ballast are Augusto Farfus with 30 kg, and Rickard Rydell, 10kg.

Because the Dubai Autodrome is a brand new racetrack, the FIA authorized the competitors of the FIA European Touring Car Championship to run a 30-minute official testing session this afternoon.

With very hot temperatures – more than 35°C – the 22 drivers had their first taste of the 5.4km track. They started very cautiously, and then improved their lap times consistently.

Late in the session Andy Priaulx set the fastest lap at 2:12.617, at an average speed of 146.42 kph. The three Autodelta Alfa Romeo drivers were placed behind him: Fabrizio Giovanardi (2:13.224), Augusto Farfus (2:13.290) and Gabriele Tarquini (2:13.408).

The best SEAT drivers – Frank Diefenbacher and Rickard Rydell – clocked the fifth and sixth fastest lap time in 2:13.585 and 2:13.726; they ranked just ahead of Dirk Müller (2:13.937) and Jörg Müller (2:14.110). Dirk only completed five laps, before stopping at his garage with power-steering problems.

Oregon Team’s Michele Bartyan emerged as the fastest of the Independent drivers, setting the 10th fastest time with a lap in 2:14.723.

POS NO NAME
BEST LAP

GAP

SPEED
LAPS
LAST LAP
  1 11 PRIAULX
2:12.617
 
146.42
12
2:16.278
  2 2 GIOVANARDI
2:13.224
0.607
145.75
11
2:13.472
  3 3 FARFUS JR.
2:13.290
0.673
145.68
11
2:13.290
  4 1 TARQUINI
2:13.408
0.791
145.55
11
2:14.326
  5 10 DIEFENBACHER
2:13.585
0.968
145.36
11
2:14.236
  6 8 RYDELL
2:13.726
1.109
145.21
11
2:13.781
  7 43 MULLER
2:13.937
1.320
144.98
5
2:20.494
  8 42 MULLER
2:14.110
1.493
144.79
8
2:14.110
  9 5 GARCIA
2:14.357
1.740
144.52
11
3:19.099
10 45 BARTYAN
2:14.723
2.106
144.13
12
2:15.528
11 6 THOMPSON
2:14.738
2.121
144.12
12
2:14.738
12 9 GENE
2:14.743
2.126
144.11
11
2:19.393
13 4 ZANARDI
2:14.943
2.326
143.90
12
2:15.702
14 14 BALZAN
2:15.931
3.314
142.85
10
2:16.988
15 44 TAVANO
2:15.996
3.379
142.78
12
2:29.360
16 27 ROSENBLAD
2:16.156
3.539
142.61
9
2:16.156
17 46 RANGONI
2:16.710
4.093
142.04
12
2:29.111
18 18 GRUNERT
2:17.144
4.527
141.59
11
2:28.267
19 16 HARRISON
2:17.183
4.566
141.55
11
2:17.702
20 23 MAGNUSSEN
2:17.605
4.988
141.11
5
2:54.600
21 17 RUOKONEN
2:18.327
5.710
140.38
9
6:34.469
22 29 SARDELLI
2:18.656
6.039
140.04
11
2:22.034
Wednesday FIA ETCC practice action from Dubai
Wednesday FIA ETCC practice action from Dubai
Wednesday FIA ETCC practice action from Dubai
Wednesday FIA ETCC practice action from Dubai
Wednesday FIA ETCC practice action from Dubai

With temperatures running at more than 35°C, Alfa Romeo's drivers joined those of BMW & SEAT for a preliminary test session at the new Dubai Autodrome this afternoon