WTCC Circuit Paul Ricard : MULLER and LOPEZ winners

RACE 1 – MULLER’S FIRST WIN WITH CITROËN

The reigning champion, who had inherited pole position after technical scrutineering yesterday, did not have the best of starts but took the lead in lap 3 after passing Michelisz and Tarquini and flew away to the chequered flag. 

Sébastien Loeb completed Citroën’s 1-2 after storming throughout the field from the last row in the grid. Honda took its first podium of the season, thanks to a great race by Gabriele Tarquini, who came ahead of Pechito López and a very inspired Rob Huff, who took fifth for LADA after a great race. In the TC2T class, Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Franz Engstler and Pasquale Di Sabatino signed another 1-2.  

Key momentsStart – Tarquini takes a perfect start ahead of Michelisz, Mulller, Valente, Huff and Borković. Lap 1 – Muller passes Michelisz for second, while there is a contact between Loeb (already 7^th) and López; Loeb has another contact with Morbidelli as he takes 6^th. Lap 3 – Muller passes Tarquini at first corner and takes the lead. Lap 4 – Loeb passes Huff and Valente and climbs to 6^thLap 5 – Huff passes Valente for 7^th Lap 6 – Loeb (who has fastest lap in 1.44.389) takes third from Michelisz. Lap 7 – López passes Huff at the chicane after a short duelLap 8 – Muller leads with 4.5 seconds on Tarquini and posts fastest lap (1.43.801). Lap 11 – López passes Michelisz in turn 2 after a contact that puts both cars sideways. Lap 12 – Loeb is attacking repeatedly Tarquini for second but the Italian resists. Lap 14 – Loeb eventually manages to outpower Tarquini, while Michelisz, Huff and Valente fight fiercely for 5^th with the Brit brilliantly taking the advantage. Lap 16 – Valente also passes Michelisz for 6^th

RACE 2 – LÓPEZ RECOVERS TO VICTORY

The Argentine preceded his team mate Yvan Muller, winner of Race 1, in another 1-2 win for Citroën after the C-Elysées bent the resilience of the Honda of Tiago Monteiro, who led for most of the race. The Portuguese offered to Honda its second consecutive podium finish. Tarquini, Bennani and Loeb completed the top 6. The Frenchman had a more difficult Race 2 after an early contact with Muller and hitting the chicane tires later on. Franz Engstler won again the TC2 race despite being hit by Filippi at mid-race. 

Key momentsStart – Monteiro takes a great start and takes the lead ahead of Bennani, Münnich, Tarquini and Borković. Lap 1 – Chilton pushes Morbidelli into a spin and Muller is also involved.Lap 2 – Chilton is passed by López and Muller who slams the door on Loeb; the two tangle. Lap 4 – Valente fights with Chilton and Michelisz for tenthLap 5 – Monteiro leads from Tarquini who has passed Bennani.Lap 6 – López and Muller pass Tarquini after a small mistake of the Italian.Lap 7 – Loeb hits the tire pile at the chicane, prompting the exit of the safety-car. Lap 8 – Chilton is given a drive-through for the incident at the start.Lap 9 – At the restart, Monteiro keeps the advantage on López and Muller; but it’s safety-car again, as Filippi T-bones Engstler at turn 1. Lap 14 – The race restarts and López and Muller outpower Monteiro; Borković and Loeb pass ValenteLap 16 – Loeb moves up to fifth Bennani ahead of BorkovićLap 17 - Loeb passes Bennani for fourthLap 18 - López wins from Muller; Michelisz and Morbidelli pip Valente and Huff for 8^th and 9^th Lap 18 – Engstler retakes TC2T lead from Di Sabatino.

^{via fia wtcc}