Silverstone 2: Giovanardi hits back
The second FIA European Touring Car Championship race at Silverstone was just as action-packed as the opener, with Fabrizio Giovanardi overcoming the reverse grid start and the challenge of Volvo's Rickard Rydell, BMW's Dirk Muller and his Alfa Romeo team-mate Nicola Larini
Dirk Muller made a great start from the outside of the front row to lead at Copse, while pole sitter Paolo Ruberti clashed with the second Schnitzer BMW of Jorg Muller, causing the latter to spin. Rydell benefited to take second, ahead of the fast starting Tom Coronel (Carly/Isert BMW), Giovanardi and Larini.
Rydell attacked Muller at Maggotts and Stowe, but that allowed Giovanardi, who passed Coronel at Stowe on the opening lap, to give Rydell a tap at Club. Despite this assault, Rydell held on to second, and Giovanardi received the driver warning flag.
Giovanardi finally made it past Rydell at Stowe on lap three, while Larini followed suit on the Hangar Straight a lap later. Giovanardi reeled in Muller and outdragged him on the start/finish straight, the Italian immediately opening up a 1.3sec advantage.
Larini grabbed second from Muller at Copse on lap seven, leaving him open to attack from Rydell once more. Rickard made it up to third with a brave move at Vale on the penultimate lap. Paolo Ruberti (Alfa) finished fifth after a clash with Coronel at Abbey which sent the Dutchman into the wall.
Despite Larini's best efforts, Giovanardi held on for his third win of the 2002 season.
1 Fabrizio Giovanardi, Nordauto Alfa Romeo 156, 10 laps
2 Nicola Larini, Nordauto Alfa Romeo 156, +0.418s
3 Rickard Rydell, Prodrive Volvo S60, +4.689s
4 Dirk Muller, Schnitzer BMW 320I, +5.271s
5 Paolo Ruberti, AGS Alfa Romeo, +9.721s
6 Fredrik Ekblom, RBM BMW 320, +10.400s
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