Race 1: Muller closes in on Priaulx

Yvan Muller was victorious in race one after leading the field for the entire nine laps. His SEAT Sport team-mate Jordi Gené crossed the line behind him and the podium was completed by James Thompson of Alfa Romeo.

The chequered flag came just in time for Muller as on his in-lap he suffered a puncture to his front left tyre. The result enabled the Frenchman to move up to second in the Drivers’ Championship, only four points behind Andy Priaulx.

At the first corner an incident involving Andy Priaulx and Roberto Colciago occurred. Colciago hit the back of Priaulx’s BMW 320si which damaged its suspension and the reigning champion and current championship leader was forced to retire in the pits.

Alessandro Zanardi and Sergio Hernández were forced to stop in avoidance and rejoined at the back of the field.

Lap two was the beginning of Thompson’s charge from eighth on the grid. The Briton closed in on Chevrolet’s Nicola Larini who was lying fourth. At the Curva Parabolica Thompson overtook on the inside line to claim the position.

The two then proceeded to chase down third placed Gabriele Tarquini before overtaking him at Roggia on lap eight.

Alain Menu from Chevrolet also overtook Tarquini on the same lap. The Italian finished sixth, followed by Augusto Farfus who was the best BMW.

There was a final flurry of action between Larini and Thompson on the last lap. They made contact and Thompson was forced to cut through the Roggia chicane but rejoined in the same position.

While Larini and Menu finished fourth and fifth respectively, fellow Chevrolet driver Rob Huff passed the chequered flag eighth and claimed pole for race two. Tom Coronel was classified ninth after a brilliant recovery.

Luca Rangoni won the independent category and came home tenth overall after resisting strong pressure from Pierre-Yves Corthals.