More ESTC stuff...

After their convincing double win scored at Mugello, in the European Super
Touring Cup opening, Dutchman Peter Kox and JAS Engineering, will defend
the series leadership at Pergusa. The team's original plan was to take part
in only three or four rounds of the Euro STC, but following the brilliant
results in the series' first meeting, JAS Engineering has obtained by Honda
Motorsport Europe the permission to race at Pergusa. The Italian squad
would like to participate in all the remaining rounds of the series, but
before taking a final decision it has to complete the budget and to
organize the operation; because some rounds of the Euro STC clash with
BTCC, where JAS is committed on behalf of Honda Motorsport Europe, to run
Gabriele Tarquini's Honda Accord.

At Pergusa, Kox and his Accord will face a fierce opposition from Alfa
Romeos and BMWs. Since three years, the Alfas are virtually unbeatable on
the very fast track, located in the heart of Sicily. Reigning Italian
champion Fabrizio Giovanardi is particularly at his ease speeding around
the lake; his true grit in jumping over the kerbs and in braking later then
everybody esle at the chicanes, enabled him to win six back-to-back races,
from 1997 to last year. Giovanardi is also the track record holder for
Super Touring cars, both in qualifying and race. His Alfa team-mate Nicola
Larini is not less competitive at Pergusa. Despite in the past he has often
missed the Sicilian meeting, for clashes with F1 grand prix, Larini has
scored four wins there, between 1988 and 1990 at the wheel of the powerful
Alfa 75 Turbo.

BMW top-guns too like Pergusa. Gianni Morbidelli (in 1990) and Emanuele
Naspetti (in 1991) had both obtained a prestigious success in the F3000
Mediterranean Grand Prix. Later the two of them repeated in Super Touring
with CiBiEmme BMWs; Morbidelli claimed back-to-back wins in 1995 and
Naspetti won all four races held in the two visits the Italian championship
paied to Sicily in 1996.

Pergusa will host the Euro STC's second race meeting of the season, on
April 29 and 30. Highlights of the event will be televised on Eurosport,
sunday night at 23.00 CET.

I still can't get my head round Kox winning races!

I got my brother to tape the races for me, Kox and the Honda were very dominant, so I'm not sure the Alfa's will have it all their own way.

Thanks for the update Crash Test!! I wish someone could translate more ESTC, STCC and DTM info!!!

Actually Kmchow i pinched it off a newsgroup, so i'll keep my eye out for anything else.

Pergusa - April 30, 2000
EURO STC - ROUNDS 3 and 4
RACE RESULTS - weather: sunny, track: dry, temperature 20 deg C.

GIOVANARDI WINS TWO AT PERGUSA AND CLAIMS EURO STC POINTS LEADERSHIP

Fabrizio Giovanardi confirmed as the Lord of Pergusa. The alfista won
the 3rd and 4th rounds of the Euro STC, stretching his winning streak on
the Sicilian track to eight consecutive successes and climbing up to
lead the series' classifications. Former leader Peter Kox, failed to
mark points in race-two and now trails Giovanardi by 7 points. Whether
if he will race at Zeltweg or not, is yet questionable. "Honda
Motorsport will take a decision on tuesday, but I definitely would like
to be there", Kox declared.

Despite a clutch problem, Emanuele Naspetti finished second in race-two,
proving him and BMW are on the pace. "Because of the accident at
Mugello," he said, "I have a 31-point gap in the classification. It
won't be easy to recover, but after today, I'm confident. And I hope
that from now on Lady Luck will pay more attention to me."

The new series leader, Giovanardi is understandably quite happy. "I
knew I could keep a very fast pace here, the only problem for me was to
avoid problems at the start. I was enough lucky to do it and since the
end of the first laps, both races were safe in my hands. I'm sorry for
Peter and I really look forward to see him in Zeltweg, because he
deserves to defend his title chances."

It's worth noting Gianluca De Lorenzi's brilliant performances in
both the races and also the first points scored by Romana Bernardoni.

RACE-ONE. Giovanardi took the lead at the start, from Kox, Larini, De
Lorenzi, Pigoli and Naspetti, whose car suffered for a clutch problem;
engine troubles relegated other BMW man Morbidelli to the back of the
field. Giovanardi pushed to build a margin, while Naspetti overtook
Pigoli on lap 3 and De Lorenzi on lap 4, closing the gap to Larini.
Pigoli, Sardelli and Colciago were in a tough fight for sixth; at half
the race Colciago tried to dive inside Sardelli, but the Isert driver
shut the door and the two of them clashed. Sardelli spun, involving
Pigoli, and both retired. In the final lap Naspetti moved on Larini's
tail and their duel for third was amazing; they negotiated the chicanes
side by side and Larini finished just 2 tenths in front of his rival.
Giovanardi won the race from Kox; while De Lorenzi obtained a good fifth
place despite Colciago's strong recovery.

RACE-TWO. Morbidelli and Larini took the start from the pit-lane, while
Sardelli didn't start at all. Again, Giovanardi was fastest at the green
light and took the lead chased by Kox, Colciago and Naspetti. On lap 3,
Naspetti dived inside Kox at a chicane and moved up to second; trying to
resist, the Dutchman jumped over the kerbs and hit the tyre barrier. Few
moments later he had to pit to change a damaged wheel and rejoined the
race at the back of the field. In the meantime De Lorenzi benefited of
the situation and passed Colciago for third. Morbidelli gave up with a
blown engine, while Larini recovered from the back. Giovanardi scored
his second win of the day, from Naspetti and De Lorenzi; the latest
managed to reject Colciago's assault and obtained his first Super
Touring podium result. Gabellini finished in a good 5th position, just
in front of Larini.

In two weeks the Euro STC will contest its third race meeting, the first
outside Italy; it will be on May 14 at Zeltweg's Austrian A-1 Ring.