Brands 2: Muller and Vauxhall dominate

The Frenchman grabbed the lead at the start when poleman Matt Neal (Honda) got too much wheelspin at the start and slid on to the grass before Paddock, allowing another four cars past him. Paul O'Neill (Vauxhall), Anthony Reid (MG), Colin Turkington (MG) and Alan Morrison (Honda) led the chase of Muller with Neal seventh ahead of Vauxhall's James Thompson.

The race order had just settled down when Chris Ryan shunted his Alfa into the pitwall on lap 13, sending everyone scurrying into the pits as the safety car appeared. Muller retained his lead, but the main beneficiary was Turkington, who leapt from fourth to second. Thompson alleged that he was held up on purpose as he entered the pits by Reid, and also claimed the MG man slowed his restart.

Thommo got ahead of Reid in a brave move at Surtees a few laps later and charged after Turkington and O'Neill, who were now battling for second. O'Neill let his friend and colleague past, and Thompson's attack on Turkington a few laps later left the MG man embedded in the Graham Hill Bend tyrewall.

All that meant Muller cruised home well clear for his first win of the season, ahead of Thompson and O'Neill. Reid finished fourth, ahead of MG team-mate Warren Hughes, while Proton's David Leslie finished sixth.

Muller said: "It was quite amazing. Even after the safety car I was able to pull out a gap quite easily. The car was just perfect. Things are looking good for me again."

Race one winner Neal was a lowly seventh, having lost a heap of time when Hughes appeared to stall ahead of him exiting the pits.


1 Yvan Muller, Vauxhall Astra, 35 laps
2 James Thompson, Vauxhall Astra, +4.929s
3 Paul O'Neill, Vauxhall Astra, +5.167s
4 Anthony Reid, MG ZS, +6.817s
5 Warren Hughes, MG ZS, +6.922s
6 David Leslie, Proton Impian, +10.764s


1 Michael Bentwood, BMW 320, +47.711s