RICHARD GÖRANSSON AND LORENZO FALESSI CLAIM FIA EUROPEAN
TOURING CAR CUPS
On a sunny and warm day, that attracted a big crowd (25,000
spectators over the two days) Richard Göransson from
Sweden and Lorenzo Falessi, who lives 50 km north of the Vallelunga
racetrack, claimed the 2005 FIA European Touring Car Cups
for the Super 2000 and the Super Production classes respectively.
26 drivers from ten European countries took part in the double
race, with Alessandro Zanardi setting pole position and obtaining
a lights to flag victory in Race 1. The second race was not
as lucky for the Italian, who had brake problems, and Jason
Plato emerged as the winner at the wheel of his SEAT Toledo
Cupra. However Göransson – 27 year old winner of
the Swedish Touring Car Championship twice in 2004 and 2005
– drove his West Coast Racing BMW 320i to a couple of
second positions that were good enough to clinch the Super
2000 Cup.
Plato and Zanardi completed the podium, while Salvatore Tavano
who was carrying on his shoulders the responsibility of representing
Alfa Romeo colours, had to settle with a fourth place in the
final classification, only 1 point behind Zanardi.
In the Super Production Cup, despite having missed the qualifying
session due to a technical problem, Lorenzo Falessi managed
to score two wins and claimed the title. A consolation prize
for Alfa Romeo.
QUALIFYING – ZANARDI ON POLE POSITION
Alessandro Zanardi claimed pole position in the morning qualifying.
The Italian’s BMW hit the track ten minutes into the
session, set the fastest time after just three laps and then
retired to the pits to see if he would have to defend his
position. His best lap was completed in 1:41.125.
The fight for 2nd and 3rd spots on the grid was close as
Salvatore Tavano and Richard Göransson had the front
row in their sights – at one stage, just 0.002 of a
second split them. The last lap provided best times for both
but it was Tavano who went 0.203 of a second faster to line
up next to Zanardi, only one tenth slower than the poleman.
Swedish Touring Car Champion, Göransson was joined by
Claudia Hürtgen on the second row as she posted the 4th
best time.
In the Super Production category, Lorenzo Pasquinelli set
the fastest lap to start ahead of Sergey Krylov and Andrey
Nikolaev in Race 1.
RACE 1 – ZANARDI’S DOMINATION
From start to finish Alessandro Zanardi was ahead of the
rest in Race 1 of the FIA European Touring Car Cup. He edged
away gradually and crossed the finish line over 9 seconds
before second placed Göransson. The final podium position
went to Tavano who recovered well from straying wide in the
first lap.
At the start, Hürtgen stalled from fourth on the grid.
This caused Engström, Stureson and Nykjær to clash
as they all moved wide in avoidance. Stureson could not continue
and Nykjær rejoined the race after a visit to the pits
to repair the damage obtained to his rear right wheel. Ukhov
was also unable to get off the starting line. In lap one,
Björk was having problems and in the process of trying
to avoid it, Plato and Rangoni clashed, causing the latter
to spin and unable to continue. Over the next couple of laps
Tavano was chasing Plato for 4th and Göransson had Coronel
in his sights for 2nd. Lap five saw both the SEAT cars being
overtaken, with the Alfa of Tavano in between them. Also on
lap five, Engström crashed into a barrier, skidded across
the track and did not rejoin.
Tavano and Coronel had a great fight on lap seven. The Italian
made a move on the inside of Coronel and then fought off his
attempts to regain the position. With the Alfa ahead, the
SEAT cars of Coronel and Plato were in a tough battle for
4th place. Plato was right behind and made an overtaking move
on lap nine but braked too late and went wide, allowing Coronel
to proceed still ahead. Despite being on the tail of the GR
Asia man for the rest of the race, Plato was unable to successfully
pass him resulting in a 5th place finish for the Briton. Edman
– whose Peugeot 407 was sporting signs of a crash in
the morning practice – finished 8th meaning pole position
for Race 2.
In the Super Production class, Falessi came from the back
and caught up with Pasquinelli over the first half of the
race. He eventually overtook him on lap 10 and crossed the
line with a small margin.
RACE 2 – GÖRANSSON WINS S2000 CUP
Due to damage obtained in race 1, Stureson, Treml and Engström
did not start. In a thoroughly entertaining race, Jason Plato
was the victor for SEAT Sport UK. He finished ahead of West
Coast Racing team-mates Göransson and Björk. Despite
coming second, Göransson achieved enough points to be
crowned European Cup champion.
Off the line, Björk overtook Edman to take the lead.
Zanardi was caught up in the middle of the pack and emerged
15th entering lap 2. On this lap Edman, who was lying 2nd
made a mistake at Curvone and went wide, dropping to the back
of the field. This left Plato to chase Björk for the
lead which he duly did, eventually making a successful move
on lap 4 and then staying ahead for the remainder of the race.
Lap 6 saw Coronel and Engstler engaged in a battle for third
position which allowed Tavano and Göransson to catch
up and join them in the bid for the podium place. Tavano made
an attempt to overtake but was not successful and Göransson
capitalised by making a great move to promote himself to 4th.
The Swede then went on to claim 2nd spot after passing Coronel
and Björk on lap 9. Tavano overtook Coronel on the next
lap for 4th position which is where he finished. Zanardi fought
his way through the field lap-by-lap and crossed the chequered
flag in seventh place, which was enough to make him third
in the overall competition.
It was Falessi who dominated the Super Production competition
again in the second race, finishing ahead of Krylov and Nikolaev
to claim the European title for the classification.
|
