Alfa Romeo's return to front-running form continued during qualifying at Puebla in Mexico yesterday with Salvatore Tarano and Augusto Farfus second and fourth fastest in qualifying for today's opening race, the first of two race that make up the sixth round of the 2006 FIA World Touring Car Championship. The Alfa Romeo team have a strong record to defend - Fabrizio Giovanardi won the inaugural WTCC race at the circuit last year.

Tavano, who has struggled with the Alfa 156 this year, posted a scorching 1:41.309 lap round Puebla during the qualifying session yesterday, just 0.050 of a second front Rickard Rydell's pole winning time (1:41.259), and good enough to plant the Italian on the front row. “I am very happy for both myself and the team that we will begin from 2nd tomorrow because we have worked very hard," said Tavano who ran 14 laps during the session. "I just hope for some more good results for tomorrow. Yes, I would like to win here but I'm not focusing on it too much, we need to stay concentrated on the races.”

Meanwhile, starting directly behind him on the 25-car grid will be Augusto Farfus who posted a 1:41.458 lap, 0.199 of a second from pole. This was good enough for 4th slot, the Brazilian also running 14 laps of the Mexican track. “I am quite happy to be 4th because it was not easy out there and we had some problems at the start of the weekend," commented Farfus. "At this track our cars seem to be better than the BMWs so it is a good opportunity for us to collect some valuable points. Giovanardi won here last year in an Alfa so we are working hard for the same result.” The third N.technology Alfa Romeo driver, Gianni Morbidelli, will start from 14th place on the grid after posting a 1:42.595 (1.336 of a second off pole) in final qualifying.

PRACTICE

The start of yesterday's programme was delayed due to repairs to the track surface; therefore the stewards decided to hold only one practice session. When the cars hit the track it was Yvan Muller who set the best time of 1:45.670 with 12 minutes remaining. Rickard Rydell was 0.157 of a second behind as second fastest while the third quickest lap was completed by Pierre-Yves Corthals. The brilliant lap of 1:46.037 was set by the Belgian at the wheel of his JAS Motorsport Honda Accord Euro R and placed him top of the Independents. The three N.technology Alfa Romeo drivers' formed a trio on the timesheet. Salvatore Tavano headed them 4th overall followed by Augusto Farfus and then Gianni Morbidelli. Race winner from last year, Peter Terting posted the 7th best time and team-mate Thompson set a 1:46.521 to place himself 9th. The pair were separated by Tom Coronel who's best lap was his last one.
 

Alessandro Zanardi completed the top ten in his BMW Team Italy-Spain 320si, he headed the BMW drivers who appear to be struggling to find the pace. From the Chevrolet camp it was Nicola Larini who achieved the best lap, 12th overall. His team-mate Robert Huff had to stop on the grass after 7 laps due to a technical problem. Red flags were issued with 4 minutes remaining after Duncan Huisman spun at turn 8. The disruption was minimal however as the car was re-started and the session resumed quickly after it had returned to the pits.

QUALIFYING

The man at the front of the grid today will be Rickard Rydell after posting the best lap (1:41.259) of the qualifying session with three minutes left on the clock. This is the second pole of the year for the Swede after that in Brands Hatch. His SEAT León will be joined on the front row by the Alfa Romeo of Salvatore Tavano who set a time just 0.050 of a second slower than Rydell's in the closing seconds.

Ryan Sharp unexpectedly occupied provisional pole for three minutes but his time of 1:41.381 was bettered by both Rydell and Tavano leaving the JAS Motorsport independent driver to line up 3rd. Directly behind him will be independent trophy rival Tom Coronel who qualified 5th, one position behind Augusto Farfus. Four SEAT Sport drivers occupied 6th through to 9th place. Yvan Muller leads them followed by Thompson, Tarquini and Gené. However, due to an engine change, Tarquini will be demoted 10 places on the grid, therefore lining up 18th. Tarquini's demotion means BMW drivers Andy Priaulx and Alessandro Zanardi will line up 9th and 10th tomorrow.

Huff set the best qualifying time from the Chevrolet team but he suffers the same fate as Tarquini after also changing his engine. Despite qualifying 16th he will line up at the back of the grid. Team-mates Menu and Larini will begin the race from 17th and 20th. The ten fastest drivers in the session were covered by only 0.9 seconds.