Priaulx clinches first WTCC title

Priaulx was assured of the crown early in the race when his only remaining title rival, Dirk Muller, crashed out into the barriers at Lisboa on lap three.

By that stage of the race, Priaulx had already climbed from seventh on the grid up to third, and he took another place on lap five when he got past Alain Menu for second spot under braking for Lisboa.

Priaulx then set about chasing early race leader Huisman, who got past pole man Peter Terting at the start, and was just one second behind the Dutchman when the Safety Car was called out on lap six following a four-car collision at Reservoir Bend. That incident involved Adriano de Micheli, Peter Terting, Peter Scharmach and Marc Hennerici.

At the restart on lap 10, Priaulx had a quick look down the inside of Huisman at Lisboa but could not find a way past and, after setting himself up perfectly on the final lap, he had to stay in formation because yellow warning flags were being displayed for Nicola Larini's stranded Chevrolet.

And although Huisman made a mistake at the penultimate corner and brushed the wall at Reservoir Bend, Priaulx could not find a way past and finished 0.257 seconds behind.

Alain Menu took third place for Chevrolet, ahead of race one winner Augusto Farfus Jr. in Alfa Romeo and Alex Zanardi in the BMW. Jordi Gene was sixth.

CLASSIFIED:

Pos  Driver               Make                 Time
 1.  Duncan Huisman       BMW 320i             37:51.579
 2.  Andy Priaulx         BMW 320i             +   0.257
 3.  Alain Menu           Chevrolet Lacetti    +   1.253
 4.  Augusto Farfus Jr.   Alfa Romeo 156       +   2.428
 5.  Alessandro Zanardi   BMW 320i             +   3.179
 6.  Jordi Gene           SEAT Leon            +   3.575
 7.  Peter Terting        SEAT Leon            +   4.193
 8.  Rickard Rydell       SEAT Leon            +   4.969
 9.  Giuseppe Ciro        BMW 320i             +  36.582
10.  Patrick Bernhardt    Ford Focus           +1:21.482
11.  Nicola Larini        Chevrolet Lacetti    +  2 Laps

NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

     Driver               Make                   On Lap
     Adriano De Micheli   Honda Accord Euro R     4
     Robert Huff          Chevrolet Lacetti       4
     Peter Scharmach      BMW 320i                4
     Marc Hennerici       BMW 320i                4
     Carl Rosenblad       BMW 320i                3
     Dirk Muller          BMW 320i                2
     James Thompson       Alfa Romeo 156          2
     Stefano D'Aste       BMW 320i                1

Fastest lap: Priaulx, 2:33.757 on lap 5