by Tom Letourneau

European and Racing Correspondent

BOUTSEN TO DRIVE ALFA IN BELGIUM 24 HOURS

Former Grand Prix driver Thierry Boutsen has floated a bid to win his country’s biggest saloon race.  The Belgian will drive an Alfa Romeo 156 in July’s 24 Heure’s for the LO Racing Team. LO is run by his brother-in-law, Olivier Laine, who used to engineer on the Larrousse Formula 1 squad.

Boutsen, 41, could partner ProCar champion Sebastian Ugeux, who will lead LO’s attack on the Belgium tin-top title. "I have a big ambition to win the race," said Boutsen, "and I want to help my brother-in-law’s team. He has the potential to do well."

ALFA MAN TAKES WIN IN MONTE CARLO CHALLENGE

Dutchman Bert Volk has won the 10th annual Monte Carlo Winter Vintage Challenge Rallye by just four seconds.  The Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce driver forced Frank Fennel’s Volvo PV544 into second place, a position he has occupied three times in the past. Bart Reitbergen completed the podium in a similar Volvo PV544.

It marks the first Dutch win in the 10 year history of the event, which saw 21 nationalities produce a turnout of over 220 vintage vehicles. Volk was outside the top 10 after the first leg, but finally took the lead, in his immaculate Alfa, in the final closing section.

BELGIUM PROCAR CHAMPION GOES WITH ALFA

1998 Belgium ProCar Champion Sebastian Ugeux has finalized the switch from Peugeot to Alfa Romeo. Ugeux will race for Belgian Alfa importer Fiat Belgio in an Alfa 156. His teammate will be Fredric Moreau who was a BMW team racer last season.

LARRAURI IN SURPRISE SWITCH TO ALFA ROMEO

Two-time South American Super Touring Car Champion Oscar Larrauri has made an unexpected move from BMW to Alfa Romeo for the 1999 Season. The Argentinean, former Eurobrun F-1 Grand Prix driver has made the switch from Proas, the team he won both of his titles with.

Larrauri, 44, now joins the Race Car squad to team up with Osvaldo Lopez, the man he pipped for the crown in 1997. Both drivers will be piloting ex-Italian Touring Car Championship Alfa 156’s.

#2 FERRARI DRIVER EDDIE IRVINE WALKS AWAY UNINJURED IN CAR CRASH

Eddie Irvine was involved in a bad car crash on Saturday, February 13th. The Irishman and Ferrari’s #2 driver behind former world champion Michael Schumacher was in an Alfa 156 driven by his girlfriend. The car was a complete write-off, but Irvine was fortunately unhurt.

Irvine has now won his first F-1 - the Australian Grand Prix over the March 6-7 weekend. Of course, the McLarens dropped out with mechanical problems (they were leading the pack by nearly 10 seconds!)

The Ferraris are turning over 18,000 RPMs this year!

30 YEARS AGO

Former Ferrari F-1 Champion and World Motorcycle Champion John Surtess announced that he had reached a deal to drive the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Group 6 Car for the entire 1969 season.