Alfa Romeo will contest the 2006 FIA World Touring Car Championship with a three car team run by Nord Technology with Brazilian Augusto Farfus as the lead driver.

The 22-year old Farfus is contesting his third consecutive season with the team and in FIA Touring Cars. Last year Farfus was classified fourth in the FIA WTCC, also scoring his first victory in Macau's Race 1.

Alfa Romeo will launch its bid for the WTCC titles in Italy on 1st-2nd April when the opening round of the 2006 season takes place at Monza. In addition to the European rounds and the ex-Europe events in Spain and China, the 2006 WTCC series has added a round in Latin America, giving Farfus the chance to drive in front of a home crowd at Curitiba in Brazil on 1st-2nd July.

Alfa Romeo will also be at the heart of the Czech Republic's bid to have its first world champion with Jiøí Janák, the winner of the 2005 Czech Skoda Octavia Cup, contesting the 2006 FIA WTCC at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.

"This is certainly going to be my greatest racing experience so far," said Jiøí Janák. "I am looking forward to it very much. We will be facing fierce competition and I wonder how we will manage to win recognition. Our goal is the best possible result, but I know very well that it will be tough."

2006 WTCC Calender

• Round 01 & 02 1st-2nd April in ITALY at Monza
• Round 03 & 04 29th-30th April in FRANCE at Magny-Cours
• Round 05 & 06 20th-21st May in GREAT BRITAIN at Brands Hatch
• Round 07 & 08 3rd-4th June in GERMANY at Oschersleben
• Round 09 & 10 1st-2nd July in BRAZIL at Curitiba
• Round 11 & 12 29th-30th July in MEXICO at Puebla
• Round 13 & 14 2nd-3rd September in CZECH REPUBLIC at Brno
• Round 15 & 16 23rd-24th September in TURKEY at Istanbul
• Round 17 & 18 7th-8th October in SPAIN at Valencia
• Round 19 & 20 18th-19th November in CHINA at Macau

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