Marrakech, Race 1 : Nykjær wins a dramatic race

Michel Nykjær and Nika Racing claimed their first WTCC victory at the end of a race full of drama in which the Dane stole the lead from Gabriele Tarquini fractions of second before the safety car was deployed.

Tarquini and his Honda had led from the start, resisting the pressure from Nykjær and James Nash. However the Italian driver opened a gap at the end of lap 5 and Nykjær did not think twice and took the inside line at the hairpin.
Seconds later the safety car was deployed and froze the race following Tiago Monteiro’s crash at Turn 3.

The race resumed with only two laps to go. And those were plenty of action with James Nash, Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alex MacDowall having a close battle for third position.

Nash managed to stay in third, while Muller beat Huff on the finish line by 0.024 seconds.

Key moments

— Start – Tarquini sprints from pole to take the lead, Nykjær passes Nash for second
— Lap 1 – Engstler hits D’Aste at Turn 1 and sends him into a spin, Bennani is involved
— Lap 1 – Huff overtakes Muller for fourth
— Lap 2 – Bennani pits for repairs and rejoins
— Lap 3 – Muller overtakes Huff for fourth
— Lap 4 – Nykjær puts pressure on Tarquini
— Lap 5 – Monteiro hits the wall at Turn 3; Chilton pits with technical problems
— Lap 5 – Nykjær steals the lead from Tarquini
— Lap 6 – the safety car is deployed; Michelisz pits, his air box broken by debris of Monteiro’s car
— Lap 10 – Engstler pits with a puncture to the front left tyre
— Lap 12 – race resumes
— Lap 13 – Nash, Muller, Huff and MacDowell fight for third position
— Lap 13 – Nykjær wins from Tarquini and Nash