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Thed Björk soars to perfect victory at Ningbo in Race 1

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Thed Björk has taken his third win of the 2018 World Touring Car Cup at Ningbo International Speedpark, and leapt to third in the standings after a perfect display, as battle broke out behind.

Björk got off the line well in his Hyundai, while it was frenetic behind as Münnich Motorsport Honda driver Esteban Guerrieri muscled his way past both BRC Racing Team Hyundai driver Norbert Michelisz and the Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS of Frédéric Vervisch.

Then Vervisch and Michelisz fought hard over third, with the two drivers making contact, with Michelisz soon billowing smoke from his car and came into retire.

Gabriele Tarquini, who had been moved back by a grid penalty for his part in the Race 3 incident at Slovakia two months’ ago, was already up to fourth, while Mehdi Bennani overtook Sébastien Loeb Racing team-mate Rob Huff which caused much consternation for the Briton, who protested to the team the Moroccan then held him up, but the team refused to place any team orders.

Yvan Muller made quick progress to finish in seventh in his YMR Hyundai and scored some key points in the championship, while nephew and Münnich Honda driver Yann Ehrlacher worked his way forwards at a steady pace to cross the line eighth, with the Comtoyou Racing Audis of Denis Dupont and Aurélien Panis completing the top ten.

Newcomer Timo Scheider finished his first WTCR race in 11th in the #42 Münnich Honda.

Tarquini’s fourth place sees him extend his lead in the championship to nine points over Yvan Muller, with Björk now up to third, 24 points behind while Michelisz and Ehrlacher and now tied in fourth, 38 points behind.

Qualifying for Race 2 takes place at 09:00 CST tomorrow (03:00 CEST), with Race 2 at 14:20 CST (8:20 CET) and Race 3 at 15:40 CST (9:40 CET).