02.05.2004 Maurizio Campani won both the closely fought EUROPEAN Alfa Challenge races in Magny-Cours, while two third places allowed Simone Iacone to retain the series lead

Two races at the French circuit of Magny-Cours for the third of the six-round, of European Alfa Challenge saw a double win for the Italian Maurizio Campani.

In the opening race he led home experienced Spanish touring car racer louis Villamil and Italian series leader Simone Iacone, while in race two Irishman Eoin Murray, and Iacone once again, completed the podium.

After this third round, the Championship lead is still held by young driver Simone Iacone, his two third places good enough to keep him at the top of overall standings and also in the under 25 classification.

The opening race was divided in two moments, a really spectacular first half, with lots of contact, and a more relaxed second part, in which the front running drivers maintained their positions.

On the grid Jose Joao Magalhaes was pole position with Andrea Larini second. From the second row Campani starts well, overtaking Larini and following Magalhaes. Larini was demoted to third, followed by Villamil, Dutch driver Rory Bertram and Iacone, all in a close fight.

On the third lap Magalhaes retired and Campani took over the lead. During the next lap, Murray hit Larini who went off. The Irishman was penalized by a stop and go penalty promoting Iacone into third place.

At the half way stage of the race Campani led with Villamil second, than Iacone and Bertram. These drivers went on to finish finished the race in this order.

The starting grid for race two was based on the final classification of the opening encounter, with Campani in pole position and Villamil second. At the start Bertram overtook Iacone and Larini, who was adjudged to have gone early and was hauled in for a stop and go penalty.

During the second lap Bertram passed Villamil, and moved into second. Spaniard Antonio Chacon, Iacone and Murray also overtook Villamil. Murray was going at a blistering pace and on the sixth lap was up to third, while Iacone got past Chacon.

A good fight got underway on the ninth lap between Campani, Bertram, Murray and Iacone for the lead. During the next two laps, Bertram lost two positions but the battle for victory went right to the chequered flag as Campani held on to cross the line ahead of Murray and Iacone, the top three covered by less than a second.

Race 1 Result: 1. Campani, 12 laps in 23:43.210; 2. Villamil +3.181; 3. Iacone +3.985; 4. Bertram a +5.437; 5. Fantini a +10.260; 6. Armetta a +13.878; 7. Brogi a +16.944; 8. Chacon a +17.329; 9. Giraudi a +17.725; 10. Roda a +19686.

Race 2 Result: 1. Campani, 12 laps in 23:35.177; 2. Murray a +0.213; 3. Iacone a +0.780; 4. Bertram a +1.089; 5. Chacon +3.900; 6. Villamil a +4.644; 7. Fantini a +5.414; 8. Heino a +16.490; 9. Armetta a +18.581; 10. Roda a +19.341.

European Alfa Challenge, Overall Classification: 1. Iacone 208 points; 2. Bertram 196; 3. Campani 193; 4. Coronel 126; 5. Chacon 122; 6. Villamil 121; 7. Murray 117; 8. Heino 106; 9. Brogi 96; 10. Jirik e Armetta 88.

Classification Under 25: 1. Iacone 208 points; 2. Bertram 196; 3. Chacon 122; 4. Murray 117; 5. Heino 106; 6. Fantini 68; 7. Bonacini 56; 8. Marchetti 53. Classification Teams: 1. PRS Group 351 points; 2. Orbit Autosport 322; 3. Antonelli Sport 320; 4. C&C Racing Team 258; 5. PFM Sport 256. Classification Rookies: 1. Chacon 122 points; 2. Murray 117; 3. Heino 106; 4. Brogi 96; 5. Jirik 88; 6. Giraudi 78; 7. Kisiel 66. Classification Twin Class: 1. Buratti/Campani 27 points; 2. Mancin/Stanco 20.