Dirk Muller heads BMW one-two
Dirk Muller held off BMW teammate Jorg Muller to win the first World Touring Car Championship race at Magny-Cours
SEAT had dominated qualifying, but the rear wheel drive BMWs could not be held back at the start.
Jorg Muller burst through from third to lead into the first corner, where Dirk Muller went around the outside of the pack to slot into second, having started only sixth. Polesitter Gabriele Tarquini fell to fourth, behind Rickard Rydell.
Although he pulled out a 1.2 second lead over the first lap, Jorg Muller soon came under threat from his namesake.
The two Schnitzer cars ran side by side into the Adelaide hairpin several times before Dirk managed to complete the move on lap nine.
The new leader was allowed no peace as Jorg M. mounted countless attacks in the final moments - almost pushing Dirk M. through the last corner as they charged to the line 0.436 seconds apart.
Rydell had a few opportunities to try and split the BMWs when they came too close to each other, but eventually had to settle for third, ahead of his SEAT teammates Tarquini, Jordi Gene, Peter Terting and James Thompson, the latter just holding off reigning champion Andy Priaulx, whose eighth place gives him pole for race two.
Championship leader Yvan Muller struggled with success ballast on his SEAT and could only finish 13th.
Tom Coronel was the best of the Independents after a long dice with Luca Rangoni.
CLASSIFIED:
Pos Driver Make Time
1. Dirk Muller BMW 320si 22:22.141
2. Jorg Muller BMW 320si + 0.436
3. Rickard Rydell SEAT Leon + 1.078
4. Gabriele Tarquini SEAT Leon + 1.514
5. Jordi Gene SEAT Leon + 4.075
6. Peter Terting SEAT Leon + 4.673
7. James Thompson SEAT Leon + 7.533
8. Andy Priaulx BMW 320si + 7.940
9. Robert Huff Chevrolet Lacetti + 14.445
10. Tom Coronel SEAT Toledo Cupra + 15.446
11. Nicola Larini Chevrolet Lacetti + 16.146
12. Luca Rangoni BMW 320si + 17.132
13. Yvan Muller SEAT Leon + 18.119
14. Alessandro Zanardi BMW 320si + 19.148
15. Roberto Colciago SEAT Leon + 20.430
16. Pierre-Yves Corthals Honda Accord Euro R + 24.065
17. Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i + 25.960
18. Stefano D'aste BMW 320i + 26.428
19. Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti + 26.684
20. Gianni Morbidelli Alfa Romeo 156 + 29.396
21. Augusto Farfus Alfa Romeo 156 + 35.536
22. Ryan Sharp Honda Accord Euro R + 36.892
23. Emmet O'brien BMW 320i + 44.453
24. Elio Marchetti Alfa Romeo 156 + 47.683
25. Simone Iacone BMW 320i + 48.018
26. Riccardo Romagnoli Alfa Romeo 156 Gta + 53.003
27. Diego Romanini BMW 320i + 55.029
28. Davide Roda SEAT Leon +1:24.696
NOT CLASSIFIED:
Driver Make Laps
Maurizio Ceresoli SEAT Toledo Cupra 7
Salvatore Tavano Alfa Romeo 156 6
Alessandro Balzan Alfa Romeo 156 4
Stefano Valli BMW 320i 2
Marcel Costa BMW 320si 0
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