Gabriele Tarquini leads Lukoil SEAT 1-2 in Slovakia

Gabriele Tarquini has taken his first win in over a year at the Slovakiaring, leading a 1-2 for SEAT with team-mate Aleksei Dudukalo in tow, whilst Yvan Muller is punished for spinning pole sitter Norbert Michelisz.

The start was chaotic, with several early victims. Arena Motorsport driver Tom Chilton was pushed out at Turn 1, whilst Norbert Michelisz clung on to the lead in his BMW 320 TC ahead of Tarquini, who was quick to pass his Lukoil Racing team-mate Dudukalo for second.

Further round the lap, Rob Huff was caught up in an incident with the SR León of Tiago Monteiro and the Ford of James Nash, with Nash eliminated from the race with heavy damage and Monteiro and Huff dropping to the back of the order. Monteiro would pull in to retire the following lap with Huff following suit on lap seven.

Tarquini took the lead on lap three after a cheeky tap on the rear of Michelisz’s BMW. This allowed Dudukalo through into second and left the Hungarian driver vulnerable to attack from the Chevrolet of Yvan Muller.

On the following lap, Muller tapped Michelisz into a spin at Turn 13 to take third, with Michelisz rejoining down in ninth spot. Muller was given a drive through penalty which dropped him down the order, and the Frenchman would only recover to 11th, just outside the points positions.

SEAT now had a 1-2-3 with Tarquini leading Dudukalo and Oriola, before Oriola moved up to second on lap six after an error from Dudukalo at Turn 13. Oriola would develop a puncture two laps later however, handing the final podium spot to Alain Menu, who was the only Chevrolet driver to score championship points in the race.

The result remains provisional as race winner Tarquini was also under investigation by the stewards for his pass on Michelisz. Regardless of the outcome, Lukoil Racing Team have taken their first victory, and it’s the first win for SEAT since Zolder in April 2011.