Slovakia Ring, Race 1: Muller dominates race one

Yvan Muller has won the opening WTCC Race of Slovakia following a dominant lights-to-flag performance in his Citroën C-Elysée WTCC.

The Frenchman, a four-time winner of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, blasted away from pole position and was never headed, claiming his fourth win of the campaign.

His victory means he edges closer to team-mate and reigning world champion José María López in the title chase. López finished second with Sébastien Loeb completing Citroën’s podium monopoly in third.

Rob Huff was fourth for LADA with Hugo Valente bagging Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy honours in fifth in his privateer Chevrolet.

Gabriele Tarquini was the leading Honda finisher in sixth with Tom Chilton seventh and Tiago Monteiro eighth after charging through from P17 on the grid. Tom Coronel took ninth with Néstor Girolami 10th on his WTCC debut having started in P18 in his Honda. Local hero Mato Homola finished in P13 behind Stefano D’Aste and John Filippi.

There were a number of notable retirements including Norbert Michelisz, Jaap van Lagen and Ma Qing Hua.