Alfa Romeo's Fabrizio Giovanardi has narrowed the gap between him and Championship leader, BMW's Dirk Muller, after both drivers won a race each in Saturday's (30 July 2005) thrilling round at the legendary Spa track in Belgium. Giovanardi's result was even the more impressive considering his Alfa Romeo 156 was carrying the biggest weight penalty.

In an action packed pair of races, Alfa's young gun, Augusto Farfus was disqualified after an accident, robbing him of fourth place, while in race two BMW's Stefano D'Aste though he had race two in the bag, when he over took race leader Giovanardi by cutting the chicane to avoid an accident on the very last lap. But stewards, even after taking into account the fact that had he not cut the chicane he would have hit the cars of Garcia, Tarquini an Muller, penalised him by three seconds, put the Alfa driver back on the podium top spot.

"When it started to rain between the races I was happy because with the ballast in my car and a good setup I was fast in the wet conditions in one of the practice sessions," said Fabrizio Giovanardi at the finish - and before he was gifted first place with D'Astre demotion. "I had a lot more power than García and I thought it would be possible for me to win the second race. I was careful at the end because I had the lead and the Bus Stop corner was wet but these things happen and second place is good."

Andy Priaulx claimed the race lead off the starting line in race one. At the first corner Dirk Müller overtook team-mate Jörg Müller. SEAT Sport driver, Gené and Alfa man Tarquini made contact which resulted in the former spinning and rejoining in 19th position. Funke rolled his Ford Focus car as he was pushed wide at Combes, which meant one lap was completed under safety car conditions. Priaulx got a good start as the safety car entered the pits while Dirk overtook Farfus to move up to second. Another BMW/Alfa Romeo battle was taking place as Jörg and Tarquini fought for fourth spot. Lap 4 saw Plato overtake Giovanardi for 8th. However, the latter reclaimed the final point scoring position while the SEAT driver had a battle with García for 7th.
 
Dirk overtook Priaulx on lap 5 to take the lead but the Briton remained close and they entered lap 6 with just 0.541 seconds between them. The remaining laps were packed full of action as Priaulx tried to attain his first race win of the season, his challenge however did not come into fruition. Jörg made a move on Farfus at the last corner of the final lap
and the two crossed the line side by side with smoke billowing out of Jörg's rear right tyre. It was a BMW 1-2-3 as the front of Jörg's car was just 0.022 of a second ahead of Farfus's Alfa. Coronel kept hold of his 14th place start to win the Independent category.

As the cars lined up on a damp track for race two, the reverse grid meant Giovanardi started on pole, and took the lead at the start chased by García, Tarquini and Thompson. As the field dived down to the Eau Rouge, Priaulx, Farfus and Dirk Müller were involved in an accident. Priaulx's car was so damaged that he had to retire, whereas Farfus and Dirk were able to rejoin.
 

Also in the first lap, Jörg Müller overtook Thompson for fourth and Tarquini drifted wide at a corner losing three places as he rejoined in fifth. Jörg proceeded to suffer problems and had to pay a visit to the pits. More action occurred as Hennerici and Rydell made contact, both came off the track: the Swede retired while Hennerici rejoined. Thompson pitted on lap 2 after being overtaken by many drivers.

Giovanardi looked set to secure his third victory of the season when on lap 3 Klenke was touched by Larini's Chevrolet, which caused the Ford to skid through the Bust Stop chicane and collect Gene's SEAT. The damage to both
cars was extensive and the safety car made its second appearance of the day, this time for three laps. The race resumed with just one lap remaining, with Giovanardi closely chased by García, Tarquini and Dirk Müller. While trying to outbrake each other at the Bus Stop, García and Tarquini clashed, involving Dirk Müller. D'Aste, who was fighting for fifth position with Coronel and Menu cut across the chicane to avoid the three spinning cars, and rejoined the track well ahead of Giovanardi.

Which eventually cost him a 3-second penalty, meaning that Giovanardi scored his third win of the year, from D'Aste, Coronel and Farfus. Dirk Müller obtained an important fifth place, while Alain Menu finished sixth and scored his first championship points.

STEWARDS EXCLUDE FARFUS

After having penalised by three seconds Stefano D’Aste in the second race, the Stewards investigated the collision between Augusto Farfus and Jörg Müller at the end of the first race. The two drivers crossed the finishing line while clashing door-to-door; the German driver managed to squeeze between his rival’s Alfa Romeo and the pit wall, claiming third position. The Stewards decided to exclude Farfus for dangerous driving, and also to penalise Jörg Müller for having caused an avoidable collision; Müller will be dropped ten places on the starting grid of the next race. The Alfa Romeo Racing Team will appeal against Farfus’ exclusion.

GIOVANARDI CHALLENGES MULLER FOR THE WTCC TITLE LEAD

The Belgian event worked in favour of Dirk Müller and Giovanardi. Dirk managed to stretch his lead by two points ahead of Giovanardi, which now stands at 4 points. However, the Alfa Romeo driver is on the ball, with three victories in three consecutive events. Priaulx has retained his third position, but he is now 11 points off the lead.

SEAT was hit by vbad luck, as none of their works drivers managed to finish within the points in either of the two races. Only Coronel saved the Spanish Manufacturer’s honour. Ford had even a darker day, with newcomer Michael Funke going upside down at the start of Race 1, and Thomas Klenke sent crashing into Jordi Gené’s car in Race 2. After Nicola Larini and Robert Huff had scored Chevrolet’s first points in the Drivers championship at Puebla, the team’s third driver, Alain Menu, was able to do the same by finishing sixth in Race 2.