WTCC: d'Aste stripped of race win, Farfus excluded

Both World Touring Car Championship race results received a shake-up several hours after action on track had concluded at Spa-Francorchamps, with Stefano d'Aste the biggest loser after being stripped of his historic Independents victory.

The Italian was deemed to have gained an unfair advantage in avoiding the melee that erupted at the Bus Stop on the final lap of race two, having opted to cut across the infield to escape the carnage evolving around him.

When the race resumed after a late safety car period with just one lap remaining, Alfa's Fabrizio Giovanardi was being closely chased by Antonio Garc?a, Gabriele Tarquini and Dirk M?ller but, while trying to outbrake each other at the Bus Stop, Garc?a and Tarquini clashed, involving the hapless M?ller. d'Aste, who was fighting
for fifth position with Tom Coronel and Alain Menu, cut across the chicane to avoid the three spinning cars, and rejoined the track well ahead of Giovanardi.

Naturally, the stewards took a dim view of his actions, and eventually hit the Italian privateer with a three-second penalty, allowing Giovanardi to score his third win of his campaign, with d'Aste claiming second ahead of Coronel and Augusto Farfus.

Title contender Jorg Muller's rant against the Alfa team after race one also had some effect, as Farfus found himself investigated and excluded for his part in a bruising battle with the German. Muller had claimed third place from the Brazilian by inches in the opening event, but claimed that he had received more than enough contact from his rival's Alfa.

The stewards agreed, and decided to exclude Farfus for dangerous driving, but also penalised M?ller for having caused an avoidable collision. The German did not lose a place, however. Alfa Romeo Racing has appealed against Farfus' exclusion.