A1-Ring race 1: Kaneishi regains series lead

Kaneishi started second, but immediately lost a place thanks to a demon start from Joao Paulo de Oliveira. From fourth on the grid, the Brazilian weaved his way up to second at the first corner, with just poleman Markus Winkelhock ahead of him.

The leaders approached Turn Two side by side, but de Oliveira tagged Winkelhock as they braked causing the German to spin wildly across the apex of the corner. In the confusion, Kaneishi simply slipped into the lead and left those behind him in his wake.

His Bertram Schafer Racing team mate Frank Diefenbacher, who led the series coming into the A1-Ring round, spun all by himself on the exit of the first corner. He could only recover to 12th by the flag, and so the race for the title was turned on its head.

Kaneishi's win gives him a six point advantage, while Pierre Kaffer made inroads into Diefenbacher's second place with a dogged ninth place finish from 21st on the grid.

Stefan Mucke took second after also sneaking past de Oliveira on the opening lap. He held on to the position despite some forceful lunges from the Brazilian early on.

Behind de Oliveira, Britain's Gary Paffett took advantage of Bjorn Wirdheim's late mistake to grab fourth. Paffett was one of the quickest men on the circuit throughout, but a big moment under braking at Gosser Kurve meant he lost touch with the leaders and had to rely on Wirdheim's trip through the Remus Kurve gravel to place fourth.

Toshiro Kaneishi, Bertram Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, 19 laps
Stefan Mucke, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel, +1.0s
Joao Paulo de Oliviera, Swiss Tony Racing Team Dallara-Opel, +2.1s
Gary Paffett, Team Rosberg Dallara-Opel, +4.6s
Raffeale Giammaria, Cram Competition Dallara-Opel, +6.9s
Nicolas Kiesa, GM Motorsport Dallara-Toyota, +8.3s

Kaneishi, 166
Diefenbacher, 160
Kaffer, 153
Mucke, 130
Winkelhock, 120
de Oliveira, 90