italiaspeed.com: 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship

N.Technology Alfa Romeo’s James Thompson delivered solid racing in today's two FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) races in Porto, Portugal, finishing tenth in both rounds. This morning’s race saw Thompson maintain his qualifying position throughout an incident-filled round whilst team-mate Olivier Tielemans fell foul of the tight Porto street track. Tielemans, 23, had improved his starting position to 16th place before retiring.

Thompson’s start to round 12 was compromised as the 33-year-old ended up on the dirtier side of the track, moving to the inside line whilst trying to defend his position from Michel Jourdain. Jourdain, racing on the outside, got the advantage of the cleaner line. The double British Touring Car Champion pushed hard, improving his times lap-after-lap until the safety car came out, breaking his momentum. Once the safety car returned to the pits on lap nine and the race restarted, Thompson was able to make up two places; finishing tenth at the chequered flag. Due to damage sustained in the morning’s race, the severely damaged number 16 Alfa Romeo 156 of Olivier Tielemans was unable to start.

James Thompson: “It was the best we could do considering all the factors. Street racing is always very hard due to the very limited opportunities to overtake. At the start I went to the inside to ensure no-one got by me. Unfortunately though, it was slower than the outside line.”

Andrea Muller, Team Manager: “Unfortunately this was a very hard weekend for the N.Technology team. We obviously need to find something to be competitive again and you can be sure that between now and the next race weekend, we’ll be working 100% for that reason. N.Technology has a great history of winning.”

Due to damage sustained in the morning’s race, the severely damaged number 16 Alfa Romeo 156 of Olivier Tielemans (above, during yesterday's qualifying session) was unable to start the second race.