31.07.2004 Simon Iacone raced to victory in the European Alfa Challenge held at Spa this morning, his win allowing him to claim the Under-27 title AND to take the series lead with just one race remaining

Italian driver Maurizio Campani arrived at Spa at points leader in the European Alfa Romeo Challenge, having wrested the lead away from fellow countryman Simone Iacone last time out at Hockenheim after claiming a first and a second place finish in the two races.

Campani continued his rich vein of form, sweeping to pole position yesterday with an unbeaten 2:43.509 best lap during the half hour morning final qualifying session around the ultra-fast Belgian track.

Andrea Larini, son of former Italian F1 and ETCC star Nicola, joined him on the front row, just over a tenth of a second adrift, while Jose Joao Magalhaes and Campani's close championship rival Simone Iacone, filled out the second row.

However come the race, it was Iacone who went on to win the single 10-lap encounter being held today. With this result, he is mathematically Champion in the Under 25 category, and with one race remaining, he is the provisional leader overall.

Larini, and Portugal's Magalhaes, joined him on the podium after finishing a close second and third.

Campani, after starting from pole position, went out on the sixth lap he but retains second place overall in the series, and he is still in with a shout of winning the championship if results go his way at Imola on 5th September, the next and final race.

Other notable retirements included the experienced Luis Villamil, who in recent seasons has been a regular ETCC competitor at the wheel of a Bigazzi-run Alfa Romeo 156, the Spaniard dropping out mid race, while the always rapid Antonia Chacon ended up embedded in a gravel trap.

European Alfa Challenge Overall: 1. Iacone 304 (ita); 2. M. Campani 268 (ita); 3. Bertram 196 (nl); 4. Chacon 176 (es); 5. Larini 173 (ita); 6. Heino 170 (fin); 7. Fantini 168 (ita); 8. Murray 149 (irl); 9. Jirik 132 (czr); 10. Armetta 130 (ita).

Under 25: 1. Iacone 304 (ita); 2. Bertram 196 (nl); 3. Chacon 176 (es); 4. Heino 170 (fin); 5. Fantini 168 (ita); 6. Murray 149 (irl).

European Alfa Challenge, Spa: Race Result after 10 Laps

Pos

N°

Drivers

Laps

Best Time

Last Time

1

25

IACONE Simone

==10==

2:44.033

2:44.812

2

2

LARINI Andrea

0.437

2:43.999

2:44.256

3

33

MAGALHAES Jose Joao

1.699

2:43.934

2:45.249

4

20

FANTINI Massimiliano

3.409

2:43.300

2:46.952

5

8

MARCHETTI Ronnie

14.574

2:44.088

2:46.461

6

23

BONACINI Alessandro

14.967

2:44.219

2:45.864

7

19

HEINO Mikko

15.594

2:43.452

2:44.318

8

21

ARMETTA Fabrizio

20.072

2:44.823

2:49.744

9

34

WELLES Willy

21.353

2:44.598

2:45.326

10

3

CAMPANI Nino

43.851

2:45.867

2:48.548

11

15

MANCIN Andrzej

58.073

2:47.491

2:51.464

12

16

JIRIK Jaromir

1:05.507

2:43.986

3:25.395

13

30

van den VOORT John

1:35.895

2:52.313

2:53.337

14

29

CHACON Antonia

==6==

2:43.283

2:43.859

15

7

CAMPANI Maurizio

==5==

2:43.786

2:43.786

16

22

VILLAMIL Luis

0.412

2:43.920

2:43.920

17

24

MURRAY Eoin

0.742

2:43.513

2:43.513

18

14

KISIEL Robert

==4==

2:44.039

2:47.032
Alfa European Challenge action
Alfa European Challenge action
Alfa European Challenge action
Alfa European Challenge action

The European Alfa Challenge features drivers from nine countries, competing in identical-specification 2.0-litre N-Technology built Alfa Romeo 147 racers, clothed in GTA-style bodywork