Alfa Reverts To 1998 Specs To Win At Enna!

In a move to solve the season’s winless drought in the Italian Super Touring Car Championship, Alfa Romeo reverted to its 1998 "Aero Kit" for the Italian Touring car round at Enna-Pergusa. Reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi responded by giving the Alfa 156 its first two wins of the season, the second being a top three position sweep!

Giovanardi dominated the first race, a sprint, but it was a different matter in the feature event. Giovanardi had clutch problems and had to start from the back of the grid, but worked his way up to third on the last lap just behind teammate Nicola Larini and top privateer driver Fabian Peroni. Giovanardi then flashed by both of them on the final lap to gain the top podium spot.

Giovanardi Takes Two Big Wins For Alfa and Regains Italian Super Touring Car Championship Lead!

The Italian Super Touring Championship may be contested by a small bunch of works cars this season, with works entries only from Alfa Romeo and BMW, but the fight for this year’s title is the closest and most competitive ever. This latest round at Mugello saw Alfa Romeo’s reigning series champion Fabrizio Giovanardi claim both wins and climb back atop the championship points table.

As expected, the works Alfa Romeo 156s dominated the proceedings on the sweeping Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit, but they missed out on a clean sweep in the first race as Nicola Larini crashed out of the lead and ended up with his 156 embedded in a gravel trap, where he remained for the remainder of the race. This off course excursion cleared the way for his teammate Giovanardi to race on to his third win of the season, finishing seven seconds ahead of the works BMWs of Emanucle Naspetti and Fabrizio de Simone. Fourth place was filled, as ever, by super privateer Roberto Colciago’s AGS Motorsport Audi A4.

Larini made amends in the longer second race, finishing on the heels of Giovanardi to help his teammate take the championship lead. The BMWs didn’t fare as well in the second race, though, with Nespetti blaming a wrong tire choice as both he and de Simone finished behind Colciago. The BMW duo, though, hard on Giovanardi’s heels in the title race, must be cursing their luck as the next round is at Misano, a track that is sure to favor their rivals’ Alfa.