Muller leads SEAT 1-2 in race one
Yvan Muller led home a diesel-powered SEAT one-two at Monza to close to within four points of the lead in the World Touring Car Championship
Muller held the lead from pole position, with teammates Jordi Gene and Gabriele Tarquini falling in behind him to occupy the top three places for the Spanish manufacturer.
Tarquini eventually slipped down the order to finish sixth, and earn a place on the second row of the reverse race two grid, after the charging James Thompson passed him to earn yet another podium for the N.Technology Alfa Romeo 156 team.
But Thompson, from eighth on the grid, had to fight for it. He was forced to cut the second chicane after contact with the Chevrolet Lacetti of Nicola Larini, and finished within a second of race winner Muller.
Alain Menu made it two Chevrolets in the top five after fighting his way past the Schnitzer Motorsport BMW 320si of Augusto Farfus, who ended up seventh behind Tarquini.
Rob Huff, in the third Chevrolet, proved to be one of the stars of the race. From 16th on the grid, he capitalised on clashes in the first corner to charge his way up the order and earn the reverse grid pole for race two.
It wasn't a good race for two of the championship contenders. Andy Priaulx, from 13th on the grid, was hit and suffered suspension damage at the first corner, while Jorg Muller could manage only 17th after also suffering suspension damage on the opening lap.
Pos Driver Car Time
1. Yvan Muller SEAT TDI 18:19.438
2. Jordi Gene SEAT TDI +0.201
3. James Thompson Alfa Romeo +0.867
4. Nicola Larini Chevrolet +1.196
5. Alain Menu Chevrolet +2.416
6. G.Tarquini SEAT TDI +3.008
7. Augusto Farfus BMW +4.052
8. Robert Huff Chevrolet +4.690
9. Tom Coronel SEAT +9.929
10. Luca Rangoni BMW +10.676
11. Fredrik Ekblom BMW +15.116
12. Oscar Nogues SEAT +15.512
13. A.Zanardi BMW +16.330
14. P-Y.Corthals SEAT +16.531
15. M.Jourdain Jr. SEAT +17.589
16. Tomas Engstrom Honda +17.937
17. Jorg Müller BMW +20.790
18. M.Ceresoli SEAT +21.125
19. Felix Porteiro BMW +21.531
20. Sergio Hernandez BMW +28.654
21. Miguel Freitas Alfa Romeo +37.124
22. Stefano D'Aste BMW +1 lap
23. Roberto Colciago SEAT +2 laps
Retirements
O.Tielemans Alfa Romeo 3 laps
Andy Priaulx BMW 2 laps
Tiago Monteiro SEAT 1 lap
Share Or Save This Story
Did Bianchi have potential to become F1 world champion?
Autosport 75: Kubica's road to recovery and beyond
Autosport 75: When Red Bull had its own intra-team fight like Norris vs Piastri
Cyan Racing retains Muller and Ehrlacher for 2020 WTCR campaign
Macau WTCR: Yvan Muller seals win double from fifth on the grid
Macau WTCR: Yvan Muller controls opener amid Lynk & Co team orders
Breaking down the term "artificial overtake" – and comparisons with F1's previous turbo era
BTCC Donington Park: Sutton storms to final victory of opening weekend
WEC Imola: Toyota denies Ferrari home win in season opener
Huff wins Goodwood Members’ Meeting Super Touring Shoot-Out
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments