Motor Racing: Tarquini stays on top

EVEN the rule clarification that cost Alfa Romeo their aerodynamic fins could not stop Gabriele Tarquini from chalking up his fourth win in four races in the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton yesterday.

Whether or not the changed set- up of the Italian's car contributed to his accident in free practice on Friday and susbequent fifth place in qualifying, it did not appear to have any impact on his performance in the race. He was third at the end of the first lap and moved up to second on the next when his team-mate, Giampiero Simoni, who was leading, made a mistake.

On lap four he outbraked Paul Radisich, in a Ford Mondeo, to take a lead he held to the flag.

Tarquini now has twice as many points as his nearest challenger, John Cleland, in the championship. Cleland's Vauxhall Cavalier did not score after crashing following a brush with Tim Harvey's Renault Laguna.

BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP (Snetterton): 1 G Tarquini (Alfa Romeo 155) 27min 37.45sec; 2 P Radisich (Ford Mondeo) 27:38.45; 3 G Simoni (Alfa Romeo 155) 27:40.42; 4 K Odor (Nissan Primera) 27:54.13; 5 P Watts (Peugeot 405) 27:58.58; 6 J Allam (Vauxhall Cavalier) 27:59.71. Championship positions: 1 Tarquini 96pts; 2 Cleland 48; 3 Radisich 36.