Monza 2: BMW strikes back
BMW struck back against Alfa Romeo's domination of the first European Touring Car Championship round at Monza in Italy, with Team Deutschland driver Jorg Muller winning race two from British BMW ace Andy Priaulx
But it was the ETCC's new boy, AutoDelta Squadra Corse driver Augusto Farfus Jr, who stunned the field by coming away from the first double-header of the season with a two-point lead in the championship after scoring a third to back up his earlier win.
Muller moved into second on the first lap, passing SEAT Toledo Cupra driver Frank Diefenbacher, who started from pole position thanks to the rules, which reverse the top eight from race one to form the race two grid.
That only left top independent BMW driver Tom Coronel ahead of Muller, and the works driver made his move at the first corner on lap two.
After that, Muller was allowed to pull away for a comfortable win as his rivals battled among themselves behind him.
"I actually enjoyed the first race more," he said. "That was good, fair fighting. This time, I got lucky that I passed Tom quite early. Then the guys behind me started fighting and it got quite easy. It's a lot easier though with a slipstream from an Alfa Romeo."
His job was made easier still by the first-lap clash of Alfa's two ETCC champions. Reigning champ Gabriele Tarquini and former title winner Fabrizio Giovanardi were trading paint throughout the opening tour, and it came to a head at the second chicane.
Tarquini tapped Giovanardi into a spin at the second chicane - Tarquini slewed off into the tyre wall on the outside while Giovanardi recovered, only to retire with damage.
"I don't know what happened," complained Giovanardi. "I was braking and I think he just hit me. It's racing but I am not happy because it is the first race meeting of the year and he is my team-mate."
BMW Team GB driver Andy Priaulx improved on his sixth place in race one by winning a great scrap with German Dirk Muller for second. The Briton made a dive up the inside at the Parabolica on lap four, but slid to the outside, allowing Muller back past him on the start/finish straight.
Two laps later, Priaulx made a move at the first corner stick, and Muller was also passed by race one winner Farfus after another strong move involving contact.
Coronel was again the top independent runner in fifth, while Diefenbacher just reclaimed sixth from BMW Team Italy-Spain driver Antonio Garcia. The pair fought tooth and nail during the final few laps, but Diefenbacher nipped past at the last corner.
The day, though, belonged to Farfus Jr. "I am quite happy," he declared. "I am a bit disappointed for my team-mates, though. For the start of the season, it is good. I just have to keep my mind and get more points."
The next round of the ETCC will be at Spanish track Valencia on April 18.
Jorg Muller BMW 320i 18m11.840s
Andy Priaulx BMW 320i 18m15.073s
Augusto Farfus Jr Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 18m16.548s
Dirk Muller BMW 320i 18m16.664s
Tom Coronel BMW 320i 18m19.317s
Frank Diefenbacher SEAT Toledo Cupra 18m19.764s
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