Menu wins as Huff is black-flagged

Chevrolet’s Alain Menu claimed his first victory of the season, his first since Brands Hatch in 2009, at Oschersleben’s Motorsport Arena today while teammate Rob Huff was black-flagged whilst out in front. Poleman Augusto Farfus finished second ahead of championship leader Yvan Muller, while reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini failed to finish.

Kristian Poulsen won the Independents’ Trophy and Michel Nykjær took the rookie honours. Norbert Michelisz came through from 15th on the grid to finish eighth and winning pole position for Race 2.

In an eventful rolling start, Augusto Farfus was tapped by Huff’s Chevrolet whilst trying to brake into the first corner. Farfus ran wide allowing Huff and Menu through. Menu had already made contact with Gabriele Tarquini, the pair collecting Andy Priaulx. Tarquini tried to limp back to the pits but eventually stopped out on track but Priaulx continued although now down in seventh.

Jordi Gené and Fredy Barth made contact spinning off on lap one but both rejoining as Darryl O’Young spun into the gravel at the Bauer-Kurve ane made it back to the pits.

By the end of lap one Muller had got back ahead of Nykjær making the order now Huff leading from, Menu, Coronel, Farfus, Nykjær, Muller, Monteiro, Priaulx, D’Aste and Michelisz.
After the first corner contact Huff was then awarded a drive-through penalty which turned into a black flag as the Brit did not come into the pits within three laps.

The action did not stop there as Farfus moved ahead of Coronel with a clean manoeuvre and further down the field Andrei Romanov came together with season newcomer Yukinori Taniguchi with both spinning but rejoining.

The race was on for the Independents’ win between Poulsen and Hernández. The pair fought for ten laps with Poulsen pushing the Spaniard hard. He eventually found a way through to take the lead at the final corner, for ninth overall.

After Huff pulled into the pits his teammate Menu took over the lead from Farfus, Muller, Coronel, Monteiro, Priaulx, Nykjær and Michelisz.

Franz Engslter passed Mehdi Bennani for third in the Independents’ and despite Farfus closing the gap down on the final lap, Menu took victory for Chevrolet, the first ever for the manufacturer at Oschersleben.

Farfus and Muller completed the podium ahead of Coronel, Monteiro and Priaulx. Nykjær was seventh and will start alongside Michelisz, in eighth, on the front row for Race 2.