Priaulx dominates race one

Priaulx held the lead from his pole position and was never headed. His supremacy was only threatened in the closing laps from fellow BMW driver Dirk Muller, who had worked his way past the SEATs of James Thompson and Rickard Rydell to be in a position to challenge the Briton.

However, Muller didn't have enough pace to rival Priaulx in the time available.

It was Priaulx's third win of the year and his fourth at the German track. As a result of the win, he moved back into the championship lead.

"I'm really happy to have a win here in my second home in Germany for BMW," Priaulx said. "Brands was a big disappointment for me but I believe in the adage that I'm only as good as my last race, so I've put that right now. I needed the gap because Dirk was fast and was closing on me big time."

Muller concurred with Priaulx's opinion and believed that if the race had been longer he could have challenged him.

"Starting from sixth, finishing second is a good race," Muller said. "I've got to give a big thanks to the team. If there had been two or three more laps there would have been a possibility to get second place. But I'm happy with second place."

Rydell finished on the final step of the podium having fought his way past teammate James Thompson.

Gabriele Tarquini also passed Thompson, who won a battle with the Alfa Romeo of Augusto Farfus in the final lap.

Despite carrying 75kg of success ballast, championship leader Yvan Muller was looking in a good position for eighth place and therefore taking pole position for today's second race in the closing laps.

However, Alex Zanardi closed fast on the Frenchman and tried to pass going into the first tight left-hander. But the pair collided when Zanardi hit the rear of Muller's SEAT, pushing him off the track and down the order.

Zanardi retired and Muller crawled home in 11th. Muller's SEAT teammate Peter Terting therefore inherited eighth, and pole for the second race.

CLASSIFIED:

Pos  Driver                Make                 Time
 1.  Andy Priaulx          BMW 320si            22:12.805
 2.  Dirk Muller           BMW 320si            +   0.469 
 3.  Rickard Rydell        SEAT Leon            +   6.561 
 4.  Gabriele Tarquini     SEAT Leon            +   7.537 
 5.  James Thompson        SEAT Leon            +  11.242
 6.  Augusto Farfus        Alfa Romeo 156       +  11.597
 7.  Jorg Muller           BMW 320si            +  11.925
 8.  Peter Terting         SEAT Leon            +  12.416
 9.  Gianni Morbidelli     Alfa Romeo 156       +  13.061
10.  Tom Coronel           SEAT Leon            +  13.443
11.  Yvan Muller           SEAT Leon            +  17.355
12.  Robert Huff           Chevrolet Lacetti    +  17.680
13.  Alain Menu            Chevrolet Lacetti    +  21.272
14.  Nicola Larini         Chevrolet Lacetti    +  22.446
15.  Florian Gruber        SEAT Leon            +  22.726
16.  Jordi Gene            SEAT Leon            +  23.117
17.  Luca Rangoni          BMW 320si            +  24.168
18.  Marcel Costa          BMW 320si            +  25.188
19.  Stefano d'Aste        BMW 320i             +  31.992
20.  Jens Edman            Peugeot 407          +  35.855
21.  Maurizio Ceresoli     SEAT Toledo Cupra    +  42.301
22.  Diego Romanini        BMW 320i             +  52.137
23.  Salvatore Tavano      Alfa Romeo 156       +  59.638
24.  Alessandro Zanardi    BMW 320si            +  1 lap 
25.  Ryan Sharp            Honda Accord Euro R  +  4 laps

NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

     Driver                Make                 On Lap
     Emmet O'Brien         BMW 320i               5
     Pierre-Yves Corthals  Honda Accord Euro R    0

Fastest Lap: Rickard Rydell, 1:34.048