Race 1: Tarquini's Alfa 1-2-3

Alfa didn't make clear whether Giovanardi, the poleman, was under team orders, but the Italian seemed to have no problem keeping up with Tarquini although never once ducked out of line to make a pass.

Farfus, the villain of Spa, acted as rear gunner for the team as he defended third place from SEAT's Jordi Gene.

The rear-wheel drive BMWs struggled in qualifying, thrashed by the Alfas (works and privateers), SEAT's and even Alessandro Balzan's JAS Sport Honda Accord. The German cars looked better in the race, but qualifying had left them with just too much work to do.

Priaulx's BMW Great Britain 320i was the first one home in fifth having spent most of the race trying to pass Salvatore Tavano's year-old Oregon Alfa. He finally managed it on lap seven at the Piratella.

BMW Deutschland drivers Jorg Muller and Dirk Muller finished seventh and eighth, and will thus start second and first for race two thanks to the reverse grid system. Dirk's performance was brilliant. Heavily success-ballasted, the German charged through the field from 19th on the grid after a gearbox failure in qualifying.

Tarquini was understandably delighted with his first victory since Valencia, back in April. "Sure 1-2-3 is the maximum we can have on the first race," he said. "The second race will be more difficult because with the reverse grid as I will start eighth and I will be in the middle of the battle. I hope to score as many points as I can and this is my target."

Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Romeo 22m08.554s
Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo +0.574s
Augusto Farfus Alfa Romeo +6.550s
Jordi Gene SEAT +7.061s
Andy Priaulx BMW +7.395s
Salvatore Tavano Alfa Romeo ++8.430s
Jorg Muller BMW +12.232s
Dirk Muller BMW +14.668s
Antonio Garcia BMW +15.090s
Alessandro Balzan Honda +17.959s