Portimao - Race 1: Muller takes a flashing start

Yvan Muller claimed his sixth victory of the season thanks to a flashing start that saw him overtaking pole sitter Gabriele Tarquini before the first turn.

For the whole race the reigning World Champion maintained control, keeping Tarquini and Rob Huff at a safe distance. The three of them finished in the order, with Norbert Michelisz being classified fourth and victorious in the Yokohama Trophy.

Behind the top four, Alain Menu and his Chevrolet in Vaillante disguise recovered from the ninth position at the start to the fifth at the end. Menu was followed by Tom Coronel, while Tiago Monteiro won the fight with Alberto Cerqui to finish seventh.

On the last-but-one lap a broken drive-shaft stopped James Thompson’s LADA Granta that had been fighting for the ninth position with Pepe Oriola, Stefano D’Aste and Alex MacDowall.

After the second race the Stewards will investigate on the incidents that involved Menu, Dudukalo and Wéber.

Key moments
Start – Muller takes a better start at overtakes Tarquini on the outside line
Lap 1 – Dudukalo and Menu make contact, the former crashes with Wéber while trying to rejoin
Lap 2 – Monteiro overtakes Cerqui for sixth
Lap 3 – Menu and MacDowell overtake Cerqui who drops to ninth
Lap 4 – Menu overtakes Monteiro for sixth
Lap 5 – Bennani pits after a collision with another car
Lap 6 – Menu overtakes Coronel for fifth
Lap 7 – Ng spins at Turn 11
Lap 8 – Nash retires for the consequences of a collision with O’Young
Lap 10 – Thompson retires from twelfth

Withdrawals
A. Dudukalo: race incident; G. Wéber: race incident; M. Bennani: race incident; J. Nash: race incident; C. Ng: rear axle; J. Thompson: drive shaft