Rounds 15/16 - Imola
There may still be six more races left in the FIA ETCC but there is a strong chance of BMW coming away from the next round in Imola with the Manufacturers' Championship title battle sown up. The gap between BMW and Alfa Romeo is 78 points, so a strong showing by the drivers in the BMW national teams could win the coveted title for the second year running when the series visits the Imola track for the first time. However, the situation is very different in the Drivers' Championship as the top three, all of whom happen to drive a BMW 320i, are separated by just five points. BMW Team Deutschland's Dirk Müller (GER) is in front, second is his team-mate, Jörg Müller, (GER) and third is BMW Team Great Britain's Andy Priaulx (GBR). They are all equally determined to win the series, and no doubt Jörg still remembers the disappointment of missing out in 2003 by a single point.
None of the teams or their drivers will underestimate the task ahead. Imola is a new circuit on the FIA ETCC schedule and it is home territory for Alfa Romeo. This is also a home race for BMW Team Italy-Spain that enters Alex Zanardi (ITA) and Antonio Garcia (ESP), as it is run by Ravaglia Motorsport out of premises in Padova. Alex is also very local as he was born down the road in Bologna and has raced there in a variety of cars including Formula 1. He remembers the circuit before it was changed and commented: "I loved the old circuit and have to admit I didn't enjoy driving an F1 car there after they had modified it. In a BMW 320i we have a little more time to enjoy the circuit and in one of these cars it is a fantastic track to drive. The turns are spaced the perfect amount so there are overtkaing opportunities. On paper it seems to be a circuit where the rear wheel drive car will be very good. It is my home circuit so I am sure everyone will understand why I am hoping for a good result."
After the previous two races in Spa BMW increased its number of race wins to ten out of fourteen so the Manufacturers' Championship points are BMW 212, Alfa Romeo 134 and SEAT 54. Dirk may be leading the Drivers' table with 86 points from Jörg on 83 and Andy on 81, but it is Andy with four wins who has been on the top step of the podium the most number of times. However, all three can boast the same statistic of only one race where they did not score points. The nearest Alfa Romeo driver to them is Gabriele Tarquini in fourth with 66 points. Tom Coronel (NLD) in his Carly Motors BMW 320i has won half of the rounds in the Independents' Class and so leads this category with 110 points from Salvatore Tavano (ITA) second on 76 points and Alessandro Balzan (ITA) third on 73 points.
The on track action starts on Saturday and the schedule for the FIA ETCC is as follows:
Saturday, 4 September09.00 - 09.30 - Free Practice 12.45 - 13.15 - Free Practice 215.45 - 16.15 - Qualifying
Sunday, 5 September09.20 - 09.35 - Warm Up14.45 - Race 1 - 11 laps (54.263km)15.45 - Race 2 - 11 laps (54.263km)
