S'Prod race: Rustad runs 'em ragged

The chaos was caused by series leader Duncan Huisman (BMW), whose ambitious lunge down the inside of the first corner caused him to hit the slow starting Alfa of local hero Luis Villamil and, in turn, they also took out Gianni Morbidelli (BMW).

Huisman claimed foul, however, saying Norman Simon punted him straight on, but Simon claimed he hit the back of Tobia Masini's car instead, having himself been hit.

More carnage at the second corner saw Simon's BMW spin and he was hit by Simone di Luca in the second of the Nissans, while Tom Ferrier's BMW was also sent flying off the track.

Ferrier's Edenbridge team mate James Hanson took full advantage, meanwhile, and grabbed third place behind Rustad and Masini (Alfa 156). Hanson swapped places with Peter Kox (BMW) on lap two, but made the place his own and began to close on Masini in the latter stages.

Although he dropped over 2secs back after making a mistake at Monza curve, he fell just 0.9secs short of grabbing second place at the finish.

Rustad, who won by over 11secs, said: "Maybe they guys behind me thought they were in a drag race - they all went straight on behind me! The Nissan is the best car out there at the moment, but the gap was only so big because so many people went out."

Tommy Rustad, Nissan Primera, 18 lapss
Tobia Masini, Alfa Romeo 156, +11.585s
James Hanson, BMW 320i, +12.410s
Peter Kox, BMW 320i, +25.894s
Salvatore Tavano, Alfa Romeo 147, +33.399s
Paolo Ruberti, BMW 320i, +34.636s