Hernandez takes maiden victory

The Spaniard had to wrestle the lead from countryman Felix Porteiro in the early laps, but once ahead he was able to control the pace of the race.

Porteiro lost more than the lead on the third lap, when the loss of momentum he suffered when Hernandez slipped by also allowed the SEATs of Yvan Muller and Tiago Monteiro through. He was unable to come back at the SEATs, so Muller and Monteiro were free to complete the podium.

Behind the lead quartet, the battle of the race raged for fifth. The BMWs of Andy Priaulx and Jorg Muller squabbled relentlessy over the place until they delayed each other enough for Gabriele Tarquini and Rickard Rydell to dive inside them both at Turn 1. The BMW pair were unable to get the places back and continued their fight with each other to the end, with Muller coming out on top.

Race one winner Alex Zanardi was also in that group until Tarquini ran wide. The SEAT driver rejoined and clattered into his countryman, sending Zanardi spinning into retirement.

Things were even worse for Augusto Farfus. The Brazilian had caused the pile-up before the first corner in race one and didn't get a lot further in race two, parking his car up in the pits at the end of the first lap after being struck in the pack on the opening lap.

Porteiro was the comfortable winner of the independent class, five places ahead of the battle for second between Tom Coronel and Vito Postiglione.

Pos Driver                Car               Time
 1. Sergio Hernandez      BMW         22m13.734s
 2. Yvan Muller           SEAT            +2.316
 3. Tiago Monteiro        SEAT            +4.114
 4. Felix Porteiro        BMW             +4.280
 5. Gabriele Tarquini     SEAT            +7.232
 6. Rickard Rydell        SEAT            +7.857
 7. Jorg Muller           BMW             +8.092
 8. Andy Priaulx          BMW             +8.852
 9. Tom Coronel           SEAT           +10.369
10. Vito Postiglione      BMW            +10.551
11. Jordi Gene            SEAT           +12.501
12. Robert Huff           Chevrolet      +16.026
13. Nicola Larini         Chevrolet      +17.624
14. Franz Engstler        BMW            +18.456
15. Stefano D'Aste        BMW            +19.352
16. Tim Coronel           SEAT           +19.916
17. Kirill Ladygin        Lada           +29.476
18. Jaap van Lagen        Lada           +30.483
19. Tom Boardman          SEAT           +30.837
20. Viktor Shapovalov     Lada           +31.362
21. Kristian Poulsen      BMW            +42.121
22. Alain Menu            Chevrolet      + 1 lap

Retirements

   Alex Zanardi           BMW             4 laps
   Augusto Farfus         BMW              1 lap


Fastest lap, Hernandez 2:12.143