FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP, Spa.
ROUNDS 11 & 12 RACE REPORT
Weather: overcast with a dry track during the first race;
rain fell during the repair time, but stopped before the start
of the second race, and the track changed from wet to dry
as the race went by.
DIRK MÜLLER WINS ONE AND STRETCHES HIS LEAD
The second race of the FIA WTCC in Spa will be remembered
as one of the most dramatic and breathtaking of recent motorsport
history.
Its results matched the unpredictable weather of the Ardennes,
with two different incidents involving the title contenders
and a third crash causing a safety car period that resulted
in the race being restarted at the beginning of the last lap.
The final classification might have turned out to be a bookmaker’s
worst nightmare, as Independent driver Stefano D’Aste
emerged from the havoc as the overall winner at the wheel
of his Proteam Motorsport BMW. His fellow Independent competitor,
Tom Coronel claimed third place on the podium behind Fabrizio
Giovanardi. However, the Stewards decided to hit D’Aste
with a 3-second pealty for cutting a chicane, which demoted
him to second.
As for the title fight, the Belgian event worked in favor
of Dirk Müller and Giovanardi. With a lot of dertermination,
the German driver claimed his third victory of the season
in Race 1, after a tough fight with Andy Priaulx. Jörg
Müller completed a perfect BMW 1-2- 3 stealing third
position from Alfa Romeo’s Augusto Farfus by inches.
This fight was also investigated by the Stewards, who decided
to exclude Farfus for dangerous driving, and also to penalise
Jörg Müller for having caused an avoidable collision.
Alfa Romeo racing appealed against Farfus’ exclusion.
Thanks to a hard-worked fifth position in Race 2, Dirk managed
to stretch his lead by two points ahead of Giovanardi, which
is now 4 points. But the Alfa Romeo man is on the ball, wth
three victories in three consecutive events. Priaulx has retained
his third position, but he is now 11 points off the lead.
SEAT was hit by very bad luck, as none of their works drivers
managed to finish within the points in either of the two races.
Only Coronel saved the Spanish Manufacturer’s honour.
Ford had even a darker day, with newcomer Michael Funke going
upside down at the start of Race 1, and Thomas Klenke sent
crashing into Jordi Gené’s car in Race 2. After
Nicola Larini and Robert Huff had scored Chevrolet’s
first points in the Drivers championship at Puebla, the team’s
third man, Alain Menu, was able to do the same by finishing
sixth in Race 2.
In the Independents’ Trophy, Coronel reduced the gap
between he and the leader Marc Hennerici. Results of both
races remain provisional, pending the appeal lodged by Alfa
Romeo and the technical inspection of the ECU of car #7 (Farfus).
RACE 1 - DIRK MÜLLER LEADS A BMW 1-2-3
Soheil Ayari (qualified 24th) was demoted at the back of
the grid due to an engine change.
Andy Priaulx claimed the race lead off the starting line.
At the first corner Dirk Müller overtook team-mate Jörg
Müller. SEAT Sport driver, Gené and Alfa man Tarquini
made contact which resulted in the former spinning and rejoining
in 19th position. Funke rolled his Ford Focus car as he was
pushed wide at Combes, which meant one lap was completed under
safety car conditions.
Priaulx got a good start as the safety car entered the pits
while Dirk overtook Farfus to move up to second. Another BMW/Alfa
Romeo battle was taking place as Jörg and Tarquini fought
for fourth spot.
Lap 4 saw Plato overtake Giovanardi for 8th. However, the
latter reclaimed the final point scoring position while the
SEAT driver had a battle with García for 7th. Dirk
overtook Priaulx on lap 5 to take the lead but the Briton
remained close and they entered lap 6 with just 0.541 seconds
between them. The remaining laps were packed full of action
as Priaulx tried to attain his first race win of the season,
his challenges however did not come into fruition. Jörg
made a move on Farfus at the last corner of the final lap
and the two crossed the line side by side with smoke billowing
out of Jörg’s rear right tyre. It was a BMW 1-2-3
as the front of Jörg’s car was just 0.022 of a
second ahead of Farfus’ Alfa.
Coronel kept hold of his 14th place start to win the Independent
category. Behind him for 15th place was Menu, the best of
the Chevrolet team while the remaining Ford driven by Klenke
was 22nd. Ayari finished 24th in his Peugeot after a spin.
RACE 2: GIOVANARDI WINS AS D’ASTE IS PENALISED
As the cars lined up on a damp track, the reverse grid meant
Giovanardi started on pole, and took the lead at the start
chased by García, Tarquini and Thompson. As the field
dived down to the Eau Rouge, Priaulx, Farfus and Dirk Müller
were involved in an accident. Priaulx’s car was so damaged
that he had to retire, whereas Farfus and Dirk were able to
rejoin. Also in the first lap, Jörg Müller overtook
Thompson for fourth and Tarquini drifted wide at a corner
losing three places as he rejoined in fifth. Jörg proceeded
to suffer problems and had to pay a visit to the pits. More
action occurred as Hennerici and Rydell made contact, both
came off the track: the Swede retired while Hennerici rejoined.
Thompson pitted on lap 2 after being overtaken by many drivers.
Giovanardi looked set to secure his third victory of the
season when on lap 3 Klenke was touched by Larini’s
Chevrolet, which caused the Ford to skid through the Bust
Stop chicane and collect Gene’s SEAT. The damage to
both cars was extensive and the safety car made its second
appearance of the day, this time for three laps.
The race resumed with just one lap remaining, with Giovanardi
closely chased by García, Tarquini and Dirk Müller.
While trying to outbrake each other at the Bus Stop, García
and Tarquini clashed, involving Dirk Müller. D’Aste,
who was fighting for fifth position with Coronel and Menu
cut across the chicane to avoid the three spinning cars, and
rejoined the track well ahead of Giovanardi. Which eventually
cost him a 3-second penaty, meaning that Giovanardi scored
his third win of the year, from D’Aste, Coronel and
Farfus. Dirk Müller obtained an important fifth place,
while Alain Menu finished sixth and scored his first championship
points.
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