Alex Zanardi wins first race at Brno

Alessandro Zanardi has won the first race of the weekend at Brno, although he got big help from pole sitter Augusto Farfus to achieve it. The Italian started from third on the grid, behind Augusto Farfus and Andy Priaulx. As the lights went green, the cars stormed towards the first corner with five cars abreast. For some reason Augusto Farfus decided to steer to the outside of the track, where other cars were. He collided with Priaulx and the Chevrolets of Nicola Larini and Rob Huff.

Jordi Gene and Alain Menu got mixed up in the crash as well, and the race was effectively over for all drivers involved.

Only Andy Priaulx and Alain Menu were able to get back to the pits, albeit with a lot of damage to their cars.

After the crash the safety car was deployed, with Gabriele Tarquini leading the pack behind it.

Zanardi was second ahead the other SEAT drivers Yvan Muller, Tiago Monteiro and Rickard Rydell.

Starting lap four the safety car went into the pits and the race could get going again. It took Zanardi only to the second corner to take the lead away from Tarquini. Yvan Muller followed Zanardi through passed Tarquini as well, to take second.

In the mean time, Jörg Müller started his run through the field by taking over nineth position from Felix Porteiro. A lap later he managed to take another three cars in one go, as he passed Tom Coronel, Stefano D’Aste and Sergio Hernandez.

On lap six Müller passes Monteiro, but he lost that place a lap later again. Sergio Hernandez even manages to get passed Müller and Monteiro as well.

Tarquini however does managed to pull off a successful pass on Yvan Muller. It was the start of the problems for the reigning world champion, as he started dropping back further and further. He was lucky to stay ahead of Tom Coronel, who defended the world champion from attacks from Vito Postiglione until the end of the race, allowing Muller to finish in eighth position.

Meanwhile, on lap eight, Jörg Müller passes Tiago Monteiro ones again. A lap later he takes up another two spots as he passes Sergio Hernandez and Rickard Rydell. On lap ten he takes on his final overtaking maneuver by passing Gabriele Tarquini for second. Alessandro Zanardi had build up a big lead by that time, and Müller didn’t manage to catch up with the Italian before the chequered flag.