Motor Racing: Alfa-Romeo led to victory by Tarquini

ALFA ROMEO roared back into contention in the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch yesterday with a double one-two in the 10th and 11th rounds of the series.

Both races were won by the Italian Alfa team leader, Gabriele Tarquini, with his team-mate and fellow countryman Giampiero Simoni following him home both times.

Tarquini now moves well clear of his chief rival, the Ford pilot Paul Radisich, who failed to score in either race.

With Tarquini now 48 points clear in the title race, the championship moves to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix supporting round, where the Alfas will have the disadvantage of being made to race for the first time with their aerodynamic front splitters retracted.

AUTO TRADER RAC BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP (Brands Hatch, 18 laps, 46.8 miles): 10th round: 1 G Tarquini (It), Alfa Romeo 155, 28min 02.22sec (ave speed 100.16mph); 2 G Simoni (It), Alfa Romeo 155, +0.20sec; 3 P Watts (GB), Peugeot 405, +4.38; 4 S Soper (GB), BMW 318i, +4.55; 5 J Cleland (GB), Vauxhall Cavalier, +6.57; 6 A Rouse (GB), Ford Mondeo, +11.97; 7 J Lammers (Neth), Volvo 850, +15.88; 8 J Winkelhock (Ger), BMW 318i, +17.27; 9 A Menu (Swit), Renault Laguna, +19.80; 10 R Rydell (Swe), Volvo 850, +20.24. Fastest lap: Tarquini, 1min 31.96sec, (101.79mph - record). 11th round: 1 Tarquini 28:00.41 (100.26mph); 2 Simoni +0.26; 3 Watts +1.95; 4 Cleland +6.73; 5 Rouse +12.76; 6 Menu +13.63; 7 Winkelhock +16.47; 8 Rydell +18.22; 9 J Bailey (GB), Toyota Carina, +19.50; 10 J Allam (GB), Vauxhall Cavalier, +20.34. Fastest lap: Tarquini, 1:31.78 (101.99mph). Championship positions: Drivers overall: 1 Tarquini, 180pts; 2= P Radisich (NZ), Cleland 132; 4 Menu 86; 5 Watts 79; 6 Simoni 66. Manufacturers overall: 1 Alfa Romeo, 180; 2 Ford, 157; 3 Vauxhall, 154; 4 Peugeot, 112; 5 Renault, 97; 6 BMW, 76.