Alfa Romeo stunningly bounced right into contention in the 2006 FIA World Touring Car Championship title race after unexpectedly scoring 1-2 finishes in both races which took place in Mexico yesterday. The three N.technology-run Alfa 156s were the class of the field at the Puebla circuit, as the BMW and SEAT teams - who previously had held upper hand - were unable to match the blistering pace laid down by the red cars.

Augusto Farfus, with a first and second place from the two races, had most to smile about as the title challenge turned upside down. SEAT driver James Thompson, who picked up 8 points yesterday, now leads the championship with 49 points. However reigning champion Andy Priaulx picked up just 2 points for his efforts in Mexico and now he and Farfus (who claimed 18 points) are in joint second place with 46 points apiece, while Rydell and Tarquini are equal 4th with 41 points each. With six of the ten double-header races completed Augusto Farfus is well in contention for a shot at the 2006 title - something that seemed completely remote just a few races ago - although he will head to the next round (at Brno on 3rd September) lugging the obligatory "success" ballast.

“After Curitiba we saw that our car was competitive and we also knew that the car was strong here last year," said a delighted Farfus. "In the first race we managed to control it throughout. Sometimes we start well and deteriorate towards the end of a race but here it was not the case. Now I am just three points off the championship lead and the team is going to work hard over the summer to be better and reduce the gap further.”

For the first time this year all three of the N.technology Alfa Romeo drivers' were on the WTCC podium and no one was more delighted than Salvatore Tavano who claimed his first points of the year with a lights-to-flag win in race one. “We could say that I had some luck in Rydell being stripped of the pole," said Tavano, who has thus far struggled to achieve and worthwhile results this year. "However, I was close to him in qualifying and today I was competitive so in that sense it wasn't only luck. In race one it was difficult to keep Augusto (Farfus) behind me and for the second part of the first race my front tyres were deteriorating. My second race was very short because I had an accident with a SEAT in the first corner and could not continue.” Tavano is now in 13th place in the drivers' championship.

Two places above him in the series - and with 22 points - is Gianni Morbidelli, the highly experienced Alfa Romeo driver claiming points in both races (2 pts in race 1, 8 pts in race 2). “For me to start thirteenth in race one was not easy because there was a big fight between myself, Terting and Priaulx," said the former F1 driver. "Finishing seventh left me on the front row for race two and this situation was much easier. The performance of the cars here was fantastic and I hope that the rest of the season will see us carry on this way.”

RACE 1

Alfa Romeo raced to a 1-2 victory in Race 1 with Salvatore Tavano leading all the way. Augusto Farfus came from 4th on the grid to finish second. The podium was completed by Ryan Sharp of JAS Honda who had to defend hard to keep fourth placed and fellow independent driver Tom Coronel at bay. Rickard Rydell crossed the finish line 8th and started Race 2 from pole.
 

The opening lap saw a severe accident involving Rob Huff and Duncan Huisman. Huff crashed hard into the wall of the new banking, Huisman then hit the rear left side of the Chevrolet. With the car stranded on the track and Huff unable to get out, the race was suspended after two laps. After Huff was put in an air-ambulance and his car was towed away, the rolling re-start took place behind the safety car. On the re-start Farfus and Sharp fought for 2nd position and Tom Coronel and Yvan Muller fought for 4th. Lap 5 saw Alessandro Zanardi and Yvan Muller make contact which resulted in the Italian drop down to 21st. Despite escaping the incident, Yvan was soon to drop down the field as on lap 8 he had to observe a drive through penalty for a jump start; this left him to finish 14th. It was also on lap 8 that Farfus overtook Sharp for 2nd on the banking of the new section of the track.

Jordi Gené, who was lying 5th, was clearly losing grip and his SEAT Sport team-mate James Thompson was able pass him on the inside of the banking on lap 11. With the Spaniard struggling in his SEAT, Dirk Müller also went through, for 6th. Over the final four laps, Tarquini and Morbidelli were fighting. After some shuffling of position, Tarquini went wide on lap 15th and eventually finished 10th. Morbidelli faired better, finishing 7th. Alain Menu achieved the best result from the Chevrolet team, he passed the chequered flag 12th overall.

RACE 2

It was double success again for the N.technology Alfa Romeo team as Race 2 saw another 1-2 finish for the Italian outfit. Augusto Farfus was the man who claimed victory after starting 7th on the grid. He was followed across the line by Gianni Morbidelli while Rickard Rydell came home 3rd for SEAT Sport.

Rydell and Morbidelli got good starts and did not let the BMW of Dirk Müller squeeze through off the line. By lap 2 Farfus was already 3rd. On lap 5 he overtook Rydell for 2nd and it was on the next lap that he secured the lead. Just as in the first race, Alessandro Zanardi and Yvan Muller were involved in an incident. It happened on lap 3 and both cars spun off the track, unable to continue. Similarly, neither of Chevrolet drivers were able to finish; Alain Menu retired on lap 4 and Nicola Larini on lap 7.

In amongst the action was a battle to be the victorious independent. Tom Coronel was leading Ryan Sharp in 6th position but the Scotsman was hot on his tail until lap 5 when the JAS Honda went out at turn 1. The race was to provide even more challenges for Coronel because on lap 13, when he was lying in 4th place after some very competent overtaking, he suffered suspension problems. The GR Asia man drifted down to 6th but however still claimed the independent victory. Dirk Müller crossed the finish line 4th and secured the best result out of the BMW drivers. Despite starting at the back of the grid due to neutralisation of parc fermé in-between the races, Andy Priaulx worked through the pack to salvage 7th position and two championship points.