Magny-Cours 1: Müller scores first win

"We had big set up problems in Barcelona so we went testing for two days at the A-1 Ring," said Jörg. " We found a solution and my car was just very good this weekend. In the last few laps I had problems with my tyres, which dropped off, but I was able to open up a gap in the first laps. Then there was a big fight behind me and I pulled away."

It was a thrilling start to the race with Briton Andy Priaulx continuing to be a thorn in the side of the other works BMW drivers, but he just couldn't hang onto second place behind Dirk Müller after the start. Jörg Müller chased him hard and overtook him at the hairpin during the first lap, only to clash with Schnitzer team-mate, Dirk Müller, at the same corner soon afterwards. Dirk went off and rejoined in a lowly seventh, while the former claimed the lead.

"Regarding what happened with Dirk, I was faster and I tried to get to the inside," said Jörg. "There was not too much room, he could have given me a little bit more, but it was also my mistake. It is a shame that something like that happened between team mates. It was a mistake from both of us."

There was a similar racing flavour behind the leaders, where the Alfas of Roberto Colciago and Larini were fighting door-to-door for the newly vacated third position. Larini got the better of his team-mate and went on to overtake Priaulx, on Lap Three, while Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tarquini tussled behind them for fifth.

There was early contact also for Ricard Rydell and Antonio García, with Rydell being forced to retire as a result. Tarquini and Priaulx, then Couto and Diefenbacher also swapped paint, but it was García who overstepped the mark as far as the stewards were concerned. A 25-second time penalty was awarded for his collision with Rydell and the Spanish driver, who took the flag in ninth, was demoted to 14th.

Meanwhile, at the front, Tarquini had closed on Colciago and taken fourth, tempting Fabrizio Giovanardi and Dirk Müller to dive up the inside. Giovanardi managed to pass through after a brief touch, while Dirk met with Colciago's block. They clashed repeatedly allowing Huisman to pass them both, for fifth.

The status quo was peserved to the finish and the drivers returned to the pits to lick their wounds before Race Two.

J Muller BMW Team Deutschland 22m23.940s
N Larini Alfa Romeo Autodelta +1.985s
A Priaulx BMW Team Great Britain +10.423s
G Tarquini Alfa Romeo Autodelta +13.897s
D Huisman Carly Motors +18.022s
R Colciago Alfa Romeo Autodelta +18.907s
T Coronel Carly Motors +22.794s
P Ruberti Clever Cats R&M Team +25.448s
J Gene SEAT Sport +29.359s
F Francia Clever Cats R&M Team +30.383s