Alfa star Larrauri clinched another South American Touring Car Driver’s Title, and a Manufacturer’s Title, with a measured drive in very heavy rain at Olavarria. He looks good, along with Alfa, to repeat in 2001. For the fourth time in its four-year history, this championship went down to the wire. And for the third time in four years, it was Oscar Larrauri who took home the title.

Third place in streaming wet conditions was enough for the former EuroBrun Grand Prix Driver to clinch the maiden title for the Quadrifoglio Corse Alfa 156 team; Larrauri’s two previous titles came at the wheel of BMWs. Teammate Osvaldo ‘Cocho’ Lopez was the only threat to Larrauri in the points race. His week did get off to a nightmarish start when he was banished to the rear of the 16-car grid for receiving outside assistance during his qualifying run.

Larrauri took pole in the balmy 34-degree (C) heat on Saturday, but Sunday was a whole different contrast with heavy rains banishing the temperature into the teens. The pole man grabbed the lead when the safety car unleashed the pack after two laps. Behind Larrauri, the Alfa 155 of Gustavo der Ohanessian held second from rainmaster Diego Menendez with his BMW 320i. Menendez was outstanding in the conditions, passing der Ohanessian for second on lap six and then setting off after Larrauri, who was 4.9 seconds up the road.

Lopez’s hopes finally disappeared on lap nine. He was up to seventh by this stage, but he overdid things under heavy braking for the hairpin prior to the main straight. Although he did get it going again, his chance was gone. By then, Menendez was just over a second behind Larrauri. By lap 13 he was on the Alfa’s tail, and three tours later he found his way past on the outside, signaling his accomplishment with his turn indicators.

With der Ohanessian having retired with a broken gearbox, Oscar Fineschi, (Chrysler-Stratus) moved up into third. He then homed in on Larrauri and passed him for second with a lap to go to take over third place in the standings from Menendez. Chevrolet Vectra drivers Daniel Belli and Martin Pugliese barged around with Fineschi in the early laps before dropping back from the Chrysler and eventually taking fourth and fifth places.

After a very difficult time developing the Alfa in 1999, during which Peugeot drivers Carlos Breno and Emiliano Spataro dominated and shared the title, Larrauri and Alfa now look certain to be the driver and car to beat once again in 2001.

The first official FIA European Touring Car Championship since 1988 will feature three races per meeting and reverse grid starts. The sport’s governing body has officially sanctioned the series and established the racing format.

At each of the ten race weekends there will be two 50km races for the touring car field, which will include the works Alfa Romeos and Hondas. The grid for second race will be made up from the finishing order, or race one reversed. A single 70km race will also be run for the Super Production cars.

Former Peugeot BTCC driver Simon Harrison is giving serious consideration to joining JS Motorsport’s Alfa Romeo 147 BTC Touring squad. Harrison has tested the team’s Super Production Alfa 156 and was said to be very impressed with the car’s performance.

The Janspeed name is to return to the BTCC Championship for the 2001 Season after an absence of six years. The world-renowned British company is linking up with GA Racing to field a two-car squad of Alfa Romeo 156s in the Production Car Class under the name of GA/Janspeed Racing.

Janspeed has a long history in Touring Car Racing, its last project being the works’ Nissan Super Touring squad in the early ‘90s. GA ran its Alfas mainly in the National Saloon Series in 2000, but suffered from numerous reliability problems. The project, which will be based at Janspeed’s Salisbury premises, will extend to running a Super Touring Honda Accord in selected rounds of the European Touring Car Series Championship. Swedish ex-Honda driver Stefan Lindberg is also involved with that program.

GA boss Gary Ayles said: "With Janspeed’s work on the engine front and constant development on the cars, I think we now have all of the ingredients to turn it around." Janspeed marketing director David Morley added: "The full weight of Janspeed’s engineering capabilities is behind this project."

The former and popular British Touring Car Champion Tim Harvey has not ruled out a racing return to the series in 2001. The 1992 title winner has taken up a race management role with JS Motorsports, which plans to run Alfa Romeo 147s in both BTCC classes.

Harvey, who was backed up by new Peugeot signee Steve Soper during his victorious 92 season, said: "It’s a consultancy position. I’m not necessarily looking for a drive but, if we had the money available, I would definitely like to drive one of the new Alfas. I would love to take on ‘Sopes’ and Peugeot."

Formula 1 minnow Minardi’s ex-chief mechanic is to run a two-car team of Alfa Romeo 156s in this year’s European Touring Car Championship. Luigi de Lorenzi, who left the Grand Prix team at the end of last season, will oversee two ex-works Super Tourers that will be run in the ETC’s "Amateur Division" under the GDL Racing banner.

Lead driver will be de Lorenzi’s son Gianluca, who showed great form with the works Alfa squad Nordauto during the past season. The identity of Gianluca’s teammate has not yet been decided.

Ferrari Formula 1 test driver Luca Badoer is expected to be out of action for another two weeks due to injuries incurred in his recent crash during testing at Barcelona. The Italian team has drafted European Touring Car Championship driver Fabrizio Giovanardi for straight-line testing of last year’s car at Vairano starting February 1