08/03/2010 - 2008 title winner Yvan Muller and current reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini clinched the first two victories of the season when the FIA World Touring Car Championship got underway in Curitiba, Brazil last weekend (6/7 March).
A sudden downpour minutes before the start of race one meant the first two laps of the WTCC season started under the safety car, but Muller - making his debut for Chevrolet in 2010 - managed to convert pole position to a commanding race victory once the green flag was shown.
"The race was complicated because at the beginning there was some standing water," Muller explained. "Then the track dried out and to be on the wet tyres on a dry track was not easy."
Muller's Chevrolet team-mates Rob Huff and Alain Menu finished second and third respectively, after the SR-Sport SEAT Leon of Jordi Gene ran wide at the Esse de Baixa from second on the grid. The Spaniard recovered but was eventually pushed down the order by team-mate Gabriele Tarquini and BMW duo Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus to cross the line in seventh.
Fellow SEAT driver Tom Coronel completed the top eight after running as high as fifth in the early stages of the race, and the WTCC's reverse grid format meant he started from pole position for the second outing of the day.
In race two, however, Coronel's hopes for victory were dashed on the opening lap when he made contact with the Chevrolet of Rob Huff following a poor start. SEAT team-mate Gene took the lead, but defending champion Tarquini overtook him through the Esse de Baixa on lap three.
"We have no team orders so it was a great race," said Tarquini. "The plan was to get a podium and maybe a win and I did that so it's a fantastic start to the season."
Chevrolet trio Menu, Muller and Huff finished third, fourth and fifth, the latter struggling for pace following his early clash with Coronel.
Augusto Farfus clinched seventh following opening lap contact with fellow BMW Andy Priaulx, who was forced into retirement as a result, whilst the SEATs of Tiago Monteiro and Michel Nykjaer crossed the line in seventh and eighth position.
The WTCC's new points system means that Muller and Tarquini are now neck-and-neck in the championship standings following round one, with Alain Menu in third place.
FIA World Touring Car Championship, Curitiba, race one result:
1. Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 16 laps
2. Rob Huff (Chevrolet Cruze), +1.053s
3. Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), +5.582s
4. Gabriele Tarquini (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), +7.136s
5. Andy Priaulx (BMW Team RBM BMW 320si), +11.625s
6. Augusto Farfus (BMW Team RBM BMW 320si), +12.098s
7. Jordi Gene (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), +14.379s
8. Tom Coronel (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), +14.647s
FIA World Touring Car Championship, Curitiba, race two result:
1. Gabriele Tarquini (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), 14 laps
2. Jordi Gene (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), +1.276s
3. Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), +5.407s
4. Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), +5.985s
5. Rob Huff (Chevrolet Cruze), +8.295s
6. Augusto Farfus (BMW Team RBM BMW 320si), +8.596s
7. Tiago Monteiro (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), +10.419s
8. Michel Nykjaer (SUNRED Engineering SEAT Leon TDI), +11.808s
FIA World Touring Car Championship, standings following round one:
1. Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 37 points
1. Gabriele Tarquini (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), 37
3. Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), 30
4. Rob Huff (Chevrolet Cruze), 28
5. Jordi Gene (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), 24
6. Augusto Farfus (BMW Team RBM BMW 320si), 16
7. Andy Priaulx (BMW Team RBM BMW 320si), 10
8. Tiago Monteiro (SR-Sport SEAT Leon TDI), 6
Brands Hatch will host the only UK round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in a joint meeting with the FIA Formula Two Championship on 17/18 July. Tickets are now on sale from £24 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. For more information call 0870 950 9000 or click on the link below.
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