ETCC: Easy for Alfa

For the second race, the top six from the first were reversed on the grid. That put Frederik Ekblom's BMW on pole and left Larini and first race winner Giovanardi fifth and sixth. But the order would not stay that way for long once the race began.

Namesakes Jorg and Dirk Muller soon took their Schnitzer BMWs to the front, as the Nordauto Alfas began to make progress behind them. By lap three the Mullers had Larini and Giovanardi right with them.

But as Larini looked for an opening, his team-mate took advantage and demoted the former Grand Prix star at the Adelaide hairpin. Giovanardi picked off Dirk Muller at the same place on the next lap, and then simply drove past Jorg Muller on the run down to the hairpin on the next. It looked too easy.

"The car has been great," said a delighted Giovanardi. "The big plan of course was to avoid accidents in the first race. We knew our car was quick and we were able to pass the BMWs in the second race."

Larini took little longer to find a way round both 320is, and that left the two Mullers to fight amongst themselves. Dirk passed Jorg for third at the tight final corner, just as the Prodrive Volvo S60 of Rickard Rydell began to loom large in their mirrors. The Swede slipped inside Jorg at Adelaide on the last lap to take his second fourth place of the day.

It is clear that BMW and Volvo have work to do if they are to challenge Alfa for victories. But according to Dirk Muller, it is far from impossible. "I'm really happy with the car," he said. "We do need to work on the performance, but it will come."

Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156
Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo 156
Dirk Muller BMW 320i
Rickard Rydell Volvo S60
Jorg Muller BMW 320i
Fredrik Ekblom BMW 320i
Gianni Morbidelli BMW 320i
Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i
Jordi Gene BMW 320i
Tommy Rustad Nissan Primera