Augusto Farfus won at Bologna
Augusto Farfus said goodbye to Alfa Romeo on high note, winning the Bomb Boogie Eurotouring Trophy at the Bologna Motor Show. The Brazilian youngster – who has signed to race next year’s WTCC with BMW – drove his N.technology Alfa Romeo 156 car to victory after a number of close pursuit races in front of packed grandstands.
In the qualifying tournament Farfus emerged as the winner of the Yellow Group ahead of Roberto Colciago (SEAT León), freshly crowned Italian Superturismo champion; while Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT León) and Alessandro Zanardi (BMW 320si) were eliminated.
Moto GP ace Marco Melandri caused a surprise as he won the Green Group at the wheel of a DB Motorsport Alfa Romeo 156; Nicola Larini and his Chevrolet qualified second to proceed to the semi-finals, while Melandri’s fellow Moto GP rider Luca Capirossi (SEAT León) and Jörg Müller (BMW 320si) remained out of the final phase.
In the first semi-final Larini prevailed over Farfus in the first run, but the Brazilian won the second and the access to the final as the sum of his times was only 0.02 seconds faster than his rivals. Same story in the second semi-final: Melandri and Colciago won one run apiece, but the SEAT driver qualified for the final with a 1.18 seconds margin.
Colciago won the first final run, beating Farfus by 0.67 seconds, but the Alfa Romeo man got his revenge in the second run by 1.83 and prevailed in the final classification by 1.16. Melandri beat Larini in the final for third place.
