Brno: Priaulx takes BMW’s 50th race win

Andy Priaulx came from fourth on the grid to take BMW’s 50th WTCC victory in Race 2 at Brno today. Priaulx finished just over two seconds ahead of fellow BMW driver Colin Turkington and Chevrolet’s Alain Menu. Darryl O’Young finished seventh to take both the Rookie Challenge and Independents’ class victories.

Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini, currently first and second in the championship, did not score points.

From pole position, O’Young had a bad start dropping down to eighth by the end of the first lap. Turkington’s clean getaway from third allowed him to take the lead ahead of Priaulx as they both jumped front row starter Michel Nykjær. Augusto Farfus lost three positions as Tarquini, Menu and Huff all came through. Nykjær was fighting hard but ended in the gravel at T4. The order by the end of the first lap was Turkington from Priaulx, Tarquini, Menu, Huff, Farfus, Monteiro, O’Young, Barth and D’Aste.

On lap two Priaulx made his bid for the lead getting ahead of Turkington. Tarquini then began challenging Turkington for second and, as the Ulsterman began defending aggressively, Priaulx was able to edge out a small gap.

By lap four Tarquini was pushing hard but ran wide dropping back to fourth behind Menu while Farfus was also starting to put pressure on Huff for fifth.

Independent racer Franz Engstler went out in the gravel from 12th after a clash with Kristian Poulsen.

By lap six Priaulx had a 2.5-second lead out in front from Turkington, Menu, Tarquini, Huff, Farfus, Monteiro, O’Young, Barth and D’Aste.

The field became fairly static for the next few laps before the action continued on the penultimate lap. Poulsen spun out at T9 after making contact with Mehdi Bennani and Tarquini retired with an injector problem costing him a fourth place finish.

Farfus and Huff had a final lap fight for what was now fourth position after Tarquini’s retirement. Farfus just about found a way through before Huff made a brilliant move to retake the position and hold on until the chequered flag.

Priaulx crossed the line to win in Brno, the setting of his first ever win for BMW back in 2003. Turkington, Menu, Huff and Farfus were next across the line with Monteiro in sixth. O’Young’s seventh gave him both the Rookie Challenge win, ahead of Barth and Independents’ victory ahead of D’Aste.