The Circuit de Nevers continues to favour BMW: Jörg Müller (GER) of BMW Team Deutschland won races 3 and 4 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) on the 4.411-kilometre circuit. In the first race, the reigning European Touring Car Championship Andy Priaulx (GBR) took second place for BMW Team UK, with SEAT driver Rickard Rydell (SWE) in third place. Joining Jörg Müller on the podium for the prize-giving ceremony of the second race were Dirk Müller (GER, BMW Team Deutschland) in second place and Priaulx once more. Antonio Garcia (ESP) of BMW Team Italy-Spain came in fourth to round off the positive result for the BMW national teams. For Jörg Müller they were wins number 13 and 14 of his touring car career. BMW managed to clinch both races in Magny-Cours for the third time in succession.
After the exciting races in Magny-Cours, Dirk Müller remains at the top of the drivers' rankings. Despite a weight handicap of 45 kilograms, the 29-year-old picked up eleven world championship points to bring his tally to 29. His team-mate Jörg Müller is in second place with 25 points, with Priaulx (23) behind him. In the manufacturers' championship, BMW managed to increase the gap to the competition. With 65 points, the brand is 19 points ahead of its nearest rival Alfa Romeo. SEAT (33) is in third place.
In the Independents' Trophy, one race win each went to Marc Hennerici (Mayen) and Carl Rosenblad (SWE, both BMW 320i). That means Hennerici continues to head the private driver rankings with 38 points ahead of Rosenblad (18) and Alfa Romeo's Salvatore Tavano (17).
Reactions:
Jörg Müller (BMW Team Deutschland): "Somehow Magny-Cours and I are a great match. Going out into the first race with used tyres and driving on a fresh set in the second race paid off. I had to do a lot of overtaking and the field was like a concertina. But when I was in the lead I was able to take off as in race 1. The season is a long one, but for the moment I am just enjoying the feeling of having been so successful again here."
Andy Priaulx (BMW Team UK): "Since Monza we have been progressing in a lot of small steps, which our good result here proves. But we have to improve further by Silverstone in order to fight for wins again. I'm pleased to be able to go home again with a pile of world championship points in my baggage. Today it was tough on the track, but all the duels were fair. It's good to be standing on the podium again."
Dirk Müller (BMW Team Deutschland): "For me the weekend was a tough piece of work. Initially it was difficult finding the right set-up, but then we suddenly hacked it and it led to a sixth and a second place. The car was perfectly prepared, so many thanks to the team. What happened after I crossed the finishing line I can't explain. I simply lost the rear. Fortunately it only happened after the finish."
Roberto Ravaglia (Team Principal BMW Team Italy-Spain): "For BMW this is another good result. Antonio could certainly have finished as runner-up in the second race, but at least he was able to take away a few points. Alessandro had a problem with the brake pedal, which meant he couldn't keep up with his rivals and fell back. We are at the start of a long championship in which a great deal can still happen."
Race 1
Weather Slightly cloudy, 28 degrees CelsiusStart All drivers in the BMW national teams have a good start. Jörg Müller defends his lead, behind him Priaulx moves up from fourth into second place. Garcia, Dirk Müller and Zanardi also gain two places.Lap 1 Garcia loses a place to Tarquini and is now fifth. Lap 2 Zanardi gets stuck in a huddle on the first turn and sacrifices three positions. The Italian is now 15th. Jordi Gene (SEA) capitalises on a mistake by Dirk Müller to pass the 29-year-old. Lap 8 Garcia fends off attacks by Farfus for several laps. Despite his 25-kilogram weight handicap, he retains the upper hand. Finally Farfus makes a mistake, allowing Dirk Müller to advance to seventh place. Zanardi has to let Hennerici pass. Lap 10 Dirk Müller passes Gene, thus moving up into sixth position.Finish Jörg Müller, who has commanded the race from the lead, celebrates his first win of the season. Priaulx crosses the line in second place and climbs the podium for the first time in 2005.
Race 2
Weather Slightly cloudy, 27 degrees CelsiusStart Again the BMW drivers get off to a good start. Jörg Müller improves from eighth to fifth place, Dirk Müller and Garcia pass Gene. Priaulx remains in seventh place and Zanardi is 14th. Lap 2 Jörg Müller gains place after place, passing Tarquini and shortly afterwards Garcia as well. The BMW drivers fight some exciting duels.Lap 4 Dirk Müller, Jörg Müller and Garcia pass Farfus. Lap 5 Jörg Müller takes the lead from his team-mate Dirk Müller.Lap 7 Priaulx starts an impressive catching-up exercise and soon works his way to the front.Lap 9 Priaulx passes Garcia and is now third. Jörg Müller heads towards his second race win. Zanardi is unlucky and drops back into 25th place due to a problem with the brake pedal.Finish Although Priaulx puts second-placed Dirk Müller under sustained pressure, the British fails to pass his fellow BMW driver. Jörg Müller is first to cross the line. Garcia finishes fourth, Zanardi remains in 25th place. Shortly after the finish Dirk Müller spins.
Results
BMW Team UK - RBM No. 1 - Andy Priaulx (GBR) Grid: 4th - Races: 2nd and 3rd
BMW Team Deutschland - Schnitzer Motorsport No. 42 - Jörg Müller (GER) Grid: 1st - Races: 1st and 1st No. 43 - Dirk Müller (GER) Grid: 9th - Races: 6th and 2nd
BMW Team Italy-Spain - ROAL MotorsportNo. 4 - Alex Zanardi (ITA) Grid: 14th - Races: 15th and 25thNo. 5 - Antonio Garcia (ESP) Grid: 6th - Races: 5th and 4th
BMW private teamsCrawford Racing - No. 28 - Carl Rosenblad (SWE) Races: 14th and 15thProteam Motorsport - No. 30 - Stefano d'Aste (ITA) Races: DNF and not started- No. 31 - Giuseppe Ciro (ITA) Races: 21st and 18th Wiechers-Sport - No. 32 - Marc Hennerici (GER) Races: 13th and 17th IEP Team - No. 33 - Adam Lacko (CZE) Races: DNF and not startedGDL Racing - No. 53 - Gianluca De Lorenzi (ITA) Races: 20th and 20th Zerocinque Motorsp. - No. 54 - Stefano Valli (RSM) Races: 25th and 27th
Results Race 1: 1st Jörg Müller (GER/BMW 320i) 22:19.545 minutes, 2nd Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) +2.882 seconds, 3rd Rickard Rydell (SWE/SEAT) +7.253, 4th Gabriele Tarquini (ITA/Alfa Romeo) +8.334, 5th Antonio Garcia (ESP/BMW 320i) +9.899, 6th Dirk Müller (GER/BMW 320i) +12.912, 7th Jordi Gene (ESP/SEAT) +14.115, 8th Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA/Alfa Romeo) +15.667, ? 15th Alessandro Zanardi (ITA/BMW 320i) +35.192
Results Race 2: 1st Jörg Müller (GER/BMW 320i) 22:23.707 minutes, 2nd Dirk Müller (GER/BMW 320i) +5.003 seconds, 3rd Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) +5.171, 4th Antonio Garcia (ESP/BMW 320i) +5.480, 5th Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA/Alfa Romeo) +6.043, 6th Jordi Gene (ESP/SEAT), +8.879, 7th Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA/Alfa Romeo) +10.538, 8th Gabriele Tarquini (ITA, Alfa Romeo) +10.828,?25th Alessandro Zanardi (ITA, BMW 320i) +53.862
Drivers' standings after 4 out of 20 races: 1st Dirk Müller 29 points, 2nd Jörg Müller 25, 3rd Andy Priaulx 23, 4th Antonio Garcia 19, 5th Gabriele Tarquini 14, 6th James Thompson 12, 7th Augusto Farfus jr. 11, 8th Jordi Gene 8, 9th Rickard Rydell 7, 10th Fabrizio Giovanardi 6, 11th Alessandro Zanardi 2Manufacturers' standings after 4 out of 20 races: 1st BMW 65, 2nd Alfa Romeo 46, 3rd SEAT 33, 4th Chevrolet 12
Next race: Silverstone, Great Britain (15th May 2005)
