ETCC Races: Giovanardi's double

The result has brought the Italian driver's season score to eight wins and stretched his points lead over Alfa Romeo team-mate Nicola Larini to 21 points, with 38 points separating him from nearest BMW driver Jörg Müller.

With 40 points still to be awarded in the two remaining events, Donington Park on October 6 and Estoril on October 20, the Alfa drivers are closing in on the European crown, while the Italian make has also a solid 56-point lead in the Manufacturers' Championship.

Giovanardi said: "I am really happy as I have not won a race during the last three meetings. In today's first race, I pushed a lot and the car was fantastic. I really enjoyed the fight I had with Jörg Müller in race two. I had to outbrake him in the first chicane and I was lucky I managed to handle my car because I was on the dirty side of the track.

"I worked a lot to win these two races and now I have a good advantage in the Championship. However, I have to concentrate on the last two meetings as my team-mate is always very fast. I need two points to be on the safe side."

Larini said: "I still think I might win the Championship. I'm a bit worried about the next meeting at Donington Park, as I haven't raced at the circuit for a long time. It will be a great but difficult challenge."