Larini’s Alfa Supreme in the Wet at Varano

Alfa Romeo star Nicola Larini and privateer Audi hero Roberto Colciago shared the spoils on the Italian Touring Car Championship’s visit to Varano. Larini was on hand to win the wet sprint race when the sister car of Fabrizio Giovanardi retired with a mechanical failure. The ex-Grand Prix star had tire problems in the feature race, and he slumped to a forth place finish as Colciago fought his way to another victory in his thus far amazing season against the highly financed Factory Teams.

Further calamity befell Alfa’s Giovanardi, who crashed while avoiding a Super Productions Renault Megane. Series title rival Emanuele Naspetti made hay with his two-second places in his BMW 320i to now extend an advantage in the points race over Giovanardi.

Peugeots Fly By Alfas in Argentina!

Peugeot came out on top in the South American Super Touring Championship race at Argentina’s Rio Cuarto circuit, but not before Alfa’s Oscar Larrauri had put up a fight. Although they were carrying 80kg of "success ballast," the EF Racing 406s - helped by fresh Factory engines from France - qualified on the front row in the hands of Carlos Bueno and Emiliano Spataro.   Larrauri split them on the second lap of the race, surging his 156 past Spataro on the long straight. Bueno was two seconds to the good by lap nine, but then Larrauri began to gradually close the gap. In turn, Spataro started looming ever more closely in the mirrors of the 2nd place Alfa.

It all, however, turned to dust two laps from home when Larrauri coasted to a halt with either fuel pressure or electrical problems. Spataro then chased home his Brazilian teammate, with the second Alfa 156 of Osvaldo Lopez making it to the finish for a very solid third place

Giovanardi Heads Alfa Steamroller!

Alfa Romeo’s Fabrizio Giovanardi reclaimed the lead in the Italian Super Touring Championship with a double win at Monza. By contrast, title rival Emanuele Naspetti had a miserable weekend, which ended when he was inadvertently T-Boned out of the second race by his teammate. Nicola Larini’s Alfa took the lead at the start of both races, but gave it up each time to aid Giovanardi’s bid for the crown.

Privateer Alfa driver Fabian Peroni was third in the sprint race, benefiting from the latest-spec engine. He was running fifth in the feature behind the BMW’s of Nespetti and Fabrizio DeSimone. On the second lap, Peroni dived inside both cars at the first chicane. DeSimone blocked, but was hit by the 156, spun, and took out Naspetti. Peroni went on to help complete an all-Alfa Romeo podium for the second time this season.

Alfa and Honda set for New Euro Series!

Alfa Romeo and Honda could go head to head in the new European Super Touring Challenge. The new initiative, which merges the German and Italian Super Touring Series, has been met with a thumbs-up by the two makers. Alfa would be represented by the works Italian squad Nordauto and German series privateer Euroteam, with Honda’s Accords run by its German championship squad, JAS. BMW Italy may also contest the ESTC. Sources in Italy suggest that the CiBiEmme-run squad is planning to run the existing 320i under a new E46 shell sourced from the South African Super Production Series.

Honda Motor Europe sports chief William de Brackeleer said, "We’re waiting for confirmation, but we are looking at it in a very positive way. We’ve decided to freeze our decision until we know totally what is happening."

If all three makers enter the series, it could mean that Italian tin-top stars Fabrizio Giovanardi (Alfa), Gabriele Tarquini (Honda, and former BTCC Champion while driving for Alfa) and Emanuele Naspetti (BMW) could go head to head. In addition, Opel is likely to can its Super Touring Vectra if the revived DTM series is launched, although the German series-leading Abt Sportsline Audi squad is said to be keen to bolster the new ESTC.

Giovanardi May Leave Alfa for Vectra BTCC Ride!

Reigning Italian Super Touring Champion and this season’s point leader for the Factory Alfa Romeo squad Nordauto is said to be renewing his efforts to find a drive in the British Touring Car Championship Series. The Alfa Romeo driver, who leads this year’s Italian Championship Series, is in discussion with Vauxhall about driving a third Vectra. Giovanardi sought drives last season with Nissan, Renault and Volvo.