Vila Real, Race 2: Mighty Ma claims WTCC glory for China in Portugal

China’s Ma Qing Hua has claimed victory in a dramatic second OSCARO.com WTCC Race of Portugal. The Citroën driver’s success in Vila Real followed his historic triumph in Russia last season when he became the first driver from China to win a world championship motor race.

Yvan Muller took the runner-up spot in a second Citroën with Honda pair Gabriele Tarquini and Norbert Michelisz third and fourth respectively and José María López fifth after an incident-packed counter.

LADA driver Nicky Catsburg was in third only to run wide and allow Tarquini to pounce. Catsburg then became embroiled in a collision with Michelisz and Sébastien Loeb, which left Loeb skating into a tyre barrier. Catsburg continued only to crash heavily, which resulted in the race being stopped early.

Hopes of home success were dashed on the charge to the first corner when Tiago Monteiro’s bid to squeeze between LADA drivers Catsburg and Jaap van Lagen ended in a heavy collision. Monteiro’s Honda suffered significant damage after it clouted a retaining wall, which prompted the intervention of the safety car for four laps while the track was cleared of stricken cars and debris. Van Laagen, who had started third, was also out on the spot, while Stefano D’Aste retired when he struck van Lagen’s detached left-rear wheel.