Fabrizio Giovanardi has crowned with another FIA European title his comeback to international touring car racing.
Ten years after winning the European Touring Car Championship twice for Alfa Romeo (in 2001 and 2002) e having added two British Touring Car Championship titles in the meantime, the Italian driver proved that at the age of 45 he is still a winner. At the wheel of a Honda Accord car he won the Super 2000 cup at the Austrian Salzburgring, beating Pepe Oriola (28 years junior!) by one mere point and giving the Danish Hartmann Motorsport their third consecutive title after those won in 2009 and 2010 by James Thompson.
The 17-year old Spaniard Oriola was equally impressive, and showed that his first year in the WTCC is bringing him to maturity very quickly. Just like a veteran he fought with Giovanardi with no awes, and even managed to win the second race, clinching the last international victory for the glorious SEAT León TDi.
Tomas Engström confirmed his consistency and finished third, his fourth podium result in the Euro Cup. Michel Nykjær had less luck, as his hopes to win a third European title were swept away by unexpected engine problems that plagued his Chevrolet Cruze in the qualifying and the races.
The Super Production title went to Serbian racer Aleksandar Tosic, at the wheel of the very same Honda Civic car driven by his fellow countryman Vojislav Lekic to become champion in 2010.
Thomas Mühlenz scored a double victory and clinched the S1600 crown; an historical success as it was achieved at the wheel an LPG-powered Ford Fiesta.
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