Yvan Muller claimed a thrilling victory in the opening race of Macau’s 2012 World Touring Car Championship finale, as points leader Rob Huff sensationally retired.
Muller entered the meeting third in the title race, but Huff’s disaster means all three factory Chevrolet drivers remain in world title contention ahead of race two.
In a tense fight over the closing laps, the third factory Chevrolet of Alain Menu harried Muller for the lead. Following their controversial Shanghai coming together, for the second race in succession the pair made contact.
Entering the top of Moorish on lap eight, a feisty Menu dived to Muller’s inside, sending him sideways. The reigning world champion recovered the powerslide and subsequently edged out 0.9 seconds of breathing space at the chequered flag.
Muller had led the opening three laps at a relatively conservative pace, backing up the first six cars, before polesitter Huff outbraked the Frenchman on the inside of Lisboa to take the lead.
The Briton was forced to swerve defensively across the road on the exit as Muller counter-attacked, but in the next sequence of bends Huff extended a couple of car lengths advantage.
Moments later, Huff clattered the barriers on the twisty city section. The #2 Cruze was immediately crabbing with suspension damage, forcing Huff to pit for attention. He continues to lead the drivers’ standings on 395 points. Muller is now 17 points behind with Menu third on 376.
Honda Racing JAS took its maiden WTCC podium thanks to a charging drive by Tiago Monteiro. The Portuguese did well to hang on to Menu’s bumper, and was never seriously threatened by 2013 Honda team-mate Gabriele Tarquini in fourth.
A typical Lisboa pile-up had resulted in a temporary WTCC car park on the first lap, in which only the top six drivers escaped delay.
All three Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy championship contenders were involved in the Lisboa chaos. Points leader Norbert Michelisz sustained a broken front bumper and suspension damage in the crash, while title rival Pepe Oriola had to stagger back to the pits to retire with damage.
Suzuka double independents’ class victor Stefano D’Aste came to a halt sideways across the track. The Italian eventually rejoined the action in an outlandishly mangled Wiechers-Sport BMW, before receiving a black and orange flag from race officials.
Having started three WTCC races in Macau from the Yokohama class pole, Hong Kong racer Darryl O’Young finally picked up his first Independent victory at the Guia circuit in fifth place.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/muller-beats-menu-as-huff-crashes
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