Farfus clinches first win of the year

Augusto Farfus has won his first race of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season. The Brazilian took the lead early in the race, just to hold on to it until the end. His team mate Jörg Müller, who took the lead from Hernandez on the first lap, finished the race in second place.

His team mate Jörg Müller, who took the lead from Hernandez on the first lap, finished the race in second place.

At the start of the race all of the BMWs came off the line perfectly. Going into the first corner five of the top six places were rear-wheel-driven BMWs. Only Tarquini managed to squeeze in between in fifth.

Hernandez took the lead, but soon had to hand that over to Jörg Müller. Farfus was third, ahead of Andy Priaulx. Alex Zanardi chased Gabriele Tarquini for fifth, while front row starter Tom Coronel dropped back to seventh at the start.

Gabriele Tarquini was the only SEAT driver who was able to make a difference in the second race. He overtakes Andy Priaulx for fourth on lap two, and a lap later he repeats his move with Sergio Hernandez, to take over third. Priaulx follows Tarquini through and takes fourth place.

Meanwhile, Tarquini’s team mates Yvan Muller and Tiago Monteiro overtake independents drivers Stefano D’Aste and Tom Coronel, to get inside the point scoring positions.

On lap 3 Farfus takes over the lead from Jörg Müller, who lets him pass easily.
As all drivers at the front settle down, Priaulx launches his attack on third position on lap eight. He passes Gabriele Tarquini, but sees the Italian come by again a lap later. Until the finish Tarquini doesn’t allow Priaulx to have another go at him and Tarquini takes the last spot on the podium, behind Jörg Müller in second and the winner Augusto Farfus.