Alfa Romeo and the GTA Nordauto Racing Team swept to their third consecutive FIA ETCC 2002 title (European Touring Championship) one race before the end of the season. On the Donnington circuit in the UK, Alfa 156 GTA cars obtained enough points to take the Manufacturers' title while Fabrizio Giovanardi became champion of the special Drivers' rankings.

All in all, the 2002 season was an exciting period for the Alfa Romeo team: in ten events (consisting of two races each), Alfa 156 GTAs gained pole position on 7 occasions (5 with Giovanardi and 2 with Larini) and won 12 victories (8 to Giovanardi and 4 to Larini). They recorded the fastest laps in 12 races (7 Giovanardi, 4 Larini and 1 Colciago) and GTA Nordauto Racing Team drivers stepped onto the podium on 24 occasions.

The 2002 European Touring Championship saw Alfa Romeo dominate from the first race. At the first five events (Magny-Cours, Silverstone, Brno, Jarama and Anderstorp) all the victories went to the GTA Nordauto Racing Team. New technical and sporting regulations introduced mid-way through the season penalised the Alfa 156 GTAs in the first race they entered. The new regulations were ratified by the FIA at Oschersleben. But the technicians and Engineers at N. Technology - the organisation responsible for Alfa Romeo's sports schedules - went to work with a will and the 156 GTAs were again unbeatable at Spa, Pergusa and Donington. A success for the team and a success for the model.

For five consecutive years, the Alfa 156s showed that they were the cars to beat in races for standard production-derived cars. They won the Italian title for two consecutive years and the continental title for three. And the challenge goes on with Nicola Larini, Gabriele Tarquini and Roberto Colciago, the drivers who will defend Alfa's colors in the FIA ETCC 2003.