Priaulx wins chaotic second race
Andy Priaulx took a comfortable victory in the second World Touring Car Championship race at Magny-Cours
The top eight reverse grid had a major influence on the outcome of the race - putting Priaulx on pole and ahead of the trouble that unfolded as Dirk Muller and Jorg Muller shot up the order from their fourth row starting postions.
Jorg Muller muscled down the inside of Peter Terting into Estoril to take third at the start. Gabriele Tarquini and Rickard Rydell saw an opportunity to further demote their teammate, but there was not enough room for all three SEATs on the apex of the corner.
The resultant tangle caused mayhem in the pack behind, with race one winner Dirk Muller and podium finisher Rydell among the retirements, while Pierre-Yves Corthals was lucky not to roll after his Honda pitched up onto two wheels.
Alex Zanardi was involved in further multi-car chaos at the Adelaide hairpin, and was then collected by his spinning teammate Manuel Costa as the two BMWs tried to squeeze either side of Luca Rangoni later in the lap.
The first corner mess had allowed Priaulx, James Thompson, Jordi Gene and Jorg Muller to open a big gap over the rest of the field. Gene and Muller passed Thompson on consecutive laps mid-race, into the Adelaide hairpin and Estoril respectively, and Muller would later find a way past Gene for second as well. But despite his best efforts, catching Priaulx proved impossible.
Tarquini and Terting recovered to fifth and sixth, with Yvan Muller and Nicola Larini completing the scorers.
Stefano D'Aste benefited most from the first corner collisions, and leapt from 18th on the grid to fifth. He was eventually shuffled back to 10th by the works cars, but held on to take the Independent class win.
Priaulx's victory puts him back into the championship lead, three points ahead of Yvan Muller.
CLASSIFIED:
Pos Driver Make Time
1. Andy Priaulx BMW 320si 22:22.769
2. Jorg Muller BMW 320si + 0.906
3. Jordi Gene SEAT Leon + 3.603
4. James Thompson SEAT Leon + 8.080
5. Gabriele Tarquini SEAT Leon + 11.700
6. Peter Terting SEAT Leon + 15.197
7. Yvan Muller SEAT Leon + 16.901
8. Nicola Larini Chevrolet Lacetti + 17.441
9. Robert Huff Chevrolet Lacetti + 21.267
10. Stefano D'Aste BMW 320i + 21.876
11. Roberto Colciago SEAT Leon + 24.141
12. Augusto Farfus Alfa Romeo 156 + 31.654
13. Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti + 32.390
14. Gianni Morbidelli Alfa Romeo 156 + 34.365
15. Salvatore Tavano Alfa Romeo 156 + 36.699
16. Tom Coronel SEAT Toledo Cupra + 39.662
17. Alessandro Balzan Alfa Romeo 156 + 40.556
18. Maurizio Ceresoli SEAT Toledo Cupra +1:07.020
19. Davide Roda SEAT Leon +1:08.274
20. Luca Rangoni BMW 320si +1:09.154
21. Diego Romanini BMW 320i +1:14.680
22. Emmet O'Brien BMW 320i +1:26.814
23. Riccardo Romagnoli Alfa Romeo 156 Gta + 1 Lap
NOT CLASSIFIED:
Driver Make Laps
Ryan Sharp Honda Accord Euro R 5
Elio Marchetti Alfa Romeo 156 4
Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 3
Marcel Costa BMW 320si 1
Alessandro Zanardi BMW 320si 1
Rickard Rydell SEAT Leon 1
Pierre-Yves Corthals Honda Accord Euro R 1
Dirk Muller BMW 320si 0
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