James Thompson again demonstrated N.Technology Alfa Romeo’s dominance at its home track in Monza yesterday, topping the FIA World Touring Car Championship times from the morning test session.
In the last official test before the championship’s second round, in Zandvoort, Netherlands, Thompson showed the Alfa Romeo 156 has improved since last year with a best time today of 2:00.412 compared to an equivalent 2:01.173 in 2006.
Thompson was fastest in today’s first session, with a marginal lead over reigning champion, Andy Priaulx. This time last year Alfa Romeo dominated three of the four tests at Monza but the fastest time overall was set by Priaulx at 2:00.688; nearly three-tenths slower than Thompson today.
The team is cautiously optimistic about the implications of this improvement but acknowledges there is still a long way to go.
Yesterday, new driver Olivier Tielemans tested the car for the first time and managed eighth and tenth fastest over the day’s two sessions.
N.Technology’s Thompson finished the day second quickest, with BMW’s Jorg Muller setting the fastest time, 1m59.991.
James Thompson
“Things have been going really well. Everybody’s worked exceptionally hard in the five weeks that we’ve had since Curitiba and the effort seems to be rewarding us with some very good times at this point.
“We have made a lot of changes to the car and they look to be in the right direction; let’s temper that though. We have to try and deal the car into Zanvoort.”
Andrea Müller, Team Manager
“We are testing suspension differentials and have made a few changes since Brazil. We are happy with how the day has gone, and both drivers did what they were asked of.
“At Monza all the corners are very fast and we have three chicanes which is good for us.
“Yesterday we have used Olivier Tielemans and he has not so big experience with the car and also in Monza. For us it was good; Olivier drove well without mistakes so it was good for us and he understood all the setting and regulations in the car.”
Wednesday AM
James Thompson (Alfa Romeo 156), 2:00.412
Andy Priaulx (BMW 320si), 2:00.427
Jorg Muller (BMW 320si), 2:00.485
Wednesday PM
Jorg Muller (BMW 320si), 1:59.991
Andy Priaulx (BMW 320si), 2:00.689
Augusto Farfus (BMW 320si), 2:00.801
