Photo: TCR

Josh Files only just wins first Abu Dhabi race from Davit Kajaia

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Josh Files won the first TCR Middle East race in Abu Dhabi, but only just, as Davit Kajaia came very close to securing the first ever Alfa Romeo victory in the TCR category.

Files started from pole position but made a slow start, allowing Kajaia into the lead in the Mulsanne Racing Alfa Romeo Giuiletta.

The current TCR Germany champion closed in on the Georgian driver, and managed to get back into the lead with just two laps left of the race.

Files won the race 1.3 seconds clear of Kajaia, while Italian teenager Giacomo Altoè made a strong debut race to finish third in the Top Run Motorsport-run Subaru WRX STI.

Championship leader Brandon Gdovic finished a lonely fourth, a full 21 seconds behind Altoe in third.

Mohammed Al Owais was classified fifth, but stopped on track due to technical problems with his Honda Civic on the final lap.

Team Engstler team-mates Luca Engstler and Brandon Gdovic had clashed on the final lap, with Engstler failing to cross the finish line, but Engstler was still classified in sixth, one lap behind.

The second race takes place at 10:35 AEST on Saturday, with the grid reversed with Stefan Goede on pole in the Engstler Volkswagen, with Files starting from the back of the seven-car grid.