Jorg Muller wins race two

But it is race one winner and fifth place finisher Augusto Farfus who will lead the championship going into the deciding rounds at Macau, despite Andy Priaulx's gallant charge from the back of the grid to eighth place.

Polesitter Alain Menu was swamped by BMWs off the line, with Huisman leading Muller into Turn 1 and Luca Rangoni almost pushing the Chevrolet down another place. He would complete the move just a lap later.

The three BMWs then pulled away in close but calm formation. Huisman looked to be on course for his first win of the season until Muller closed in dramatically in the final stages and then outbraked the Ravaglia driver on lap 12.

The victory brings Muller to within a point of the championship lead, but he denied that team orders had been a factor in the crucial move.

"We are really running in different teams," said the Schnitzer driver. "But I knew already from the first race that he could go fast for (only) half the race, so I just waited and tried to save my tyres."

"The race was perfect for me until the last few laps when I was struggling with the car," admitted Huisman. "My radio wasn't working, but I was struggling anyway and I didn't want to risk taking Jorg and me out."

Rangoni held on for third and another independents' class win, although Tom Coronel has now clinched the title in the division.

Just as in race one, Menu soon began to slide down the field, with teammate Nicola Larini and Farfus both passing him. That would be the limit of Farfus' progress, as he could not get on terms with Larini.

Meanwhile Priaulx was making superb progress from the 13th row of the grid, reaching 14th within a lap and then quickly closing on the gaggle of cars fighting for the final points positions.

As Menu, Dirk Muller, Yvan Muller and Salvatore Tavano became increasingly physical with each other, Priaulx was able to easily gain ground, and he surged into eighth on the last lap as the disgruntled Menu lost momentum after a brush with Dirk Muller.

Priaulx's first point in four races means that he is equal second in the standings with Jorg Muller, just one point behind Farfus.

Gabriele Tarquini, who could not start this race after his heavy crash earlier on, is three points off the lead and three ahead of teammate Rickard Rydell, whose charge from the rear was not as productive as Priaulx's. The Swede finished 20th.

With Dirk Muller moving up to 53 points, just seven points cover the top seven drivers with 20 available in Macau.

Results

Pos  Driver                Make                    Time
 1.  Jorg Muller           BMW 320si          23:15.498
 2.  Duncan Huisman        BMW 320si            + 0.861
 3.  Luca Rangoni          BMW 320si            + 1.485
 4.  Nicola Larini         Chevrolet Lacetti    + 2.395
 5.  Augusto Farfus        Alfa Romeo 156       + 4.435
 6.  Yvan Muller           SEAT Leon           + 11.324
 7.  Dirk Muller           BMW 320si           + 12.229
 8.  Andy Priaulx          BMW 320si           + 12.383
 9.  Alain Menu            Chevrolet Lacetti   + 13.238
10.  Salvatore Tavano      Alfa Romeo 156      + 14.817
11.  Gianni Morbidelli     Alfa Romeo 156      + 18.205
12.  James Thompson        SEAT Leon           + 18.666
13.  Tom Coronel           SEAT Leon           + 19.469
14.  Vincent Radermecker   Chevrolet Lacetti   + 20.670
15.  Robert Huff           Chevrolet Lacetti   + 21.256
16.  Pierre-Yves Corthals  Honda Accord        + 21.817
17.  Alessandro Zanardi    BMW 320si           + 26.911
18.  Maurizio Ceresoli     SEAT Leon           + 27.896
19.  Stefano D'Aste        BMW 320i            + 29.903
20.  Rickard Rydell        SEAT Leon           + 30.843
21.  Peter Terting         SEAT Leon           + 31.525
22.  Oscar Nogues          SEAT Leon           + 34.564
23.  Diego Romanini        BMW 320i             + 1 LAP

Not Classified

Jordi Gene            SEAT Leon             D.N.F.
Maria De Villota      Chevrolet Lacetti     D.N.F.

Fastest Laps

Jorg Muller           BMW 320si          1:45.819