BMW strikes back in France
Having dominated qualifying, the BMW Deutschland team strolled to victory in round five of the European Touring Car Championship at Magny-Cours with Dirk Muller passing poleman Jorg Muller at the Adelaide Hairpin with four laps to go to win his first race of the season
The performance of the 320is at the French track was a stark reversal in form in a season that has so far been dominated by the powerful new Alfa Romeo 156 S2000. Augusto Farfus Jr, driving the Autodelta Alfa Romeo carrying the least ballast (10kg), did finish third however.
The two Mullers streaked away at the start of the race, aided by a clash between Franck Diefenbacher's impressive SEAT and Andy Priaulx's BMW. The impact broke Diefenbacher's spoiler while the Guernseyman dropped to the back of the pack before staging a remarkable recovery that would place him eighth at the finish.
"I'm rather disappointed with that," said Priaulx. "What happened there, my collision with Diefenbacher, was really not necessary. I'll have to rewatch it again on video. But well, that happens, it's just one of those things..."
Spaniard Antonio Garcia finished fourth having been passed early on by Farfus Jr, while championship leader Gabriele Tarquini finished fifth ahead of Autodelta team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi in sixth. That position probably should have gone to Rickard Rydell, who had passed the Italian on merit before his SEAT engine let go.
In fact after showing so much promise in qualifying, SEAT's only real reward from race one was seventh-placed finisher Jordi Gene's fastest lap - a first for the Spanish manufacturer in the ETCC.
Michele Bartyan won the Independent's class in the Oregon Alfa finishing ninth ahead of Stefano d'Aste.
"I'm feeling really good," said the jubilant Muller after the race. "It's my first win this season, after two really tough races. I had a clear, fair fight with Jorg. I think that's just how team-mates should work together.
"To be honest, luck was a bit on my side today. There has been some oil on the track, and it was quite slippery. And Jorg was in front, so he was driving onto it before I did. I came closer and closer, and eventually used the opportunity to slip past."
Dirk Muller BMW 320i 22m14.381s
Jorg Muller BMW 320i 22m15.152s
Augusto Farfus Jr Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 22m23.539s
Antonio Garcia BMW 320i 22m24.739s
Gabriele Tarquni Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 22m25.411s
Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 22m33.519s
Jordi Gene SEAT Toledo Cupra 22m34.171s
Andy Priaulx BMW 320i 22m34.502s
Michele Bartyan Alfa Romeo 156 Gta 22m45.245s
Stefano d'Aste BMW 320i 22m45.555s
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