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Two days of
tests have taken place at the Monza circuit in preparation
for the first event in the World Touring Car Championship,
which will get underway at this circuit on April 10 next.
All four official Alfa Romeo Racing Team drivers were
present at the wheel of Alfa 156 racers: Gabriele Tarquini,
Fabrizio Giovanardi, Augusto Farfus and James Thompson, each
participated in the six scheduled test sessions.
Young Brazilian driver Farfus distinguished himself with the
best time, 1:58.7 in the second session held on Wednesday
March 23, confirming his excellent feel for the Italian
circuit where he won his first race with an Alfa Romeo in
the 2003 European Championship.
The second best time was again set by an Alfa Romeo driver,
Gabriele Tarquini, in 1:59.0, ahead of Dirk Muller's BMW,
1:59.3. Only three tenths of a second behind him was James
Thompson in the third factory Alfa 156, 1:59.6, who in turn
finished a mere one tenth of a second in front of team mate
Fabrizio Giovanardi, who posted a 1:59.7. For the Alfa Romeo
Racing Team the focus was on an overall test of the cars,
race simulation and brake tests, apart from overall
fine-tuning of the set-up for the April 10 race.
The Scuderia Antonelli Sport team's private-entry Alfa Romeo
156s with drivers Salvatore Tavano and Andrea Larini
performed excellently too, with times of 2:00.8 and 2:01.2
respectively.
The 15 drivers entered for the European Alfa Challenge -
international events reserved for the Alfa 147 GTA Cup racer
- were also present. Best time among them was set by
Maurizio Campani, 2:09.4, followed by Simone Iacone, 2:09.9,
and Irish driver Eoin Murray, 2:10.2. |
