Priaulx takes first win of the year

Andy Priaulx’s first win of the season has arrived. The man from Guernsey started second on the grid, overtook leader Jörg Müller on lap five and then got a superb restart after a safety car period to claim victory. Müller finished second ahead of Alain Menu and regained the championship lead.

At the start Augusto Farfus overtook Menu for seventh but on the subsequent straight the Swiss man reclaimed the position. Lap two saw a second Chevrolet; that of Rob Huff, overtake Farfus.

Despite promoting himself to seventh by lap 11, Huff made a mistake when trying to overtake Yvan Muller on lap 12 and ended up in the tyres. He rejoined but finished out of the points.

Huff’s team-mate Nicola Larini also made a storming charge towards the front of the pack by overtaking Gabriele Tarquini on lap three, Muller on lap five and Tom Coronel on the last lap.

A second podium of the day was not to be for the Italian however as he crashed at turn 7. Alain Menu ensured Chevrolet was represented in the top three by overtaking Coronel.

The field had to follow the safety car for four laps after Miguel Freitas crashed at the chicane. Priaulx zig-zagged as late as he could at the restart before shooting away and creating a substantial gap.

There was some jostling for the other point scoring positions and after the exit of Huff and Larini, Coronel came home fourth followed by fellow SEAT driver Yvan Muller.

Farfus finished sixth and Tarquini seventh. Independent driver Pierre-Yves Corthals from Exagon Racing won the category and managed to keep Michel Jourdain and James Thompson behind, coming in impressive eighth to claim his first championship point.

His closest chaser, Stefano D’Aste, lost his chances to repeat his Race one victory when he was hit with a drive-through for jumping the start.

An incident on the last lap eliminated Jordi Gené and Alessandro Zanardi.

Jorg Muller now leads the championship with 58 points ahead of Priaulx and Farfus who are joint second with 56.t