Race 1: Giovanardi all the way
Fabrizio Giovanardi made a little bit of history by winning the first European Touring Car Championship race run to the new Super 2000 rules at Magny-Cours today (Sunday)
The Italian took a lights-to-flag victory in his Alfa Romeo. He was followed home by team-mate Nicola Larini, who had a rather busier time of it.
The former Grand Prix driver got a bad start from the front row of the grid and was passed by Dirk Muller's BMW. Paolo Ruberti was also ahead going into the first corner, but Larini tapped the yellow Alfa into a spin. Ruberti slid across the track, into the wall and out of the race.
Larini then set about catching and passing Muller's BMW. His car clearly had a power advantage and had little problem blasting past the 320i with four laps to go.
Rickard Rydell delivered a promising fourth place for Volvo in the all-new S60, finishing ahead of the BMWs of Jorg Muller and Fredrik Ekblom.
The other Volvo of James Hanson had a less than happy time, the former singl-seater driver coming home 14th. The other Briton in the field Tom Ferrier retired his Alfa at the end of the first lap.
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
Luis Villamil Alfa Romeo 156
Peter Kox BMW 320i
Jordi Gene BMW 320i
Gianni Morbidelli BMW320i
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