Yvan Muller takes the title; Norbert Michelisz wins race one
RML Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller took a record fourth WTCC championship at Suzuka with third place, after pole-sitter, Norbert Michelisz, took a home victory in his Zengo run Honda.
Muller initially dropped back from his fourth place qualifying position after being jumped by Tiago Monteiro’s fast-starting Honda.
Howewer, the Portuguese lost his advantage after fighting with and eventually dropped back to eighth after an eventful first lap.
However, he was forced to retire after being squeezed off at Turn 7 after battling with Pepe Oriola’s Chevrolet; the Spaniard given a drive-through penalty for his on-track behaviour.
Monteiro’s team-mate, Gabriele Tarquini, also had a difficult race after his Honda was hit with technical issues whilst running a strong fifth.
Muller managed to claw his way back to third, securing his fourth WTCC title and taking the #1 with him to Citroen next season.
He was also pressuring Alex MacDowall for the second place on the podium in the race’s final stages.
Come the end of the race, Michelisz won his third WTCC career race by five seconds ahead of MacDowall, Muller and Tom Chilton in fourth.
Lada’s James Thompson rounded out the top six, with the Briton failing to equal the Russian manufacturer’s best result of fifth in Moscow this season.
