WTCC 2010 - Curitiba, Brazil, race report

08 Mar 10

The 2010 FIA World Touring Car championship (WTCC) season kicked-off in Curitiba, Brazil, this weekend. Chevrolet dominated race one while the new SR-Sport claimed victory in race two with reigning Champion Gabriele Tarquini.

After starting on pole, Muller fought with SR-Sport’s Jordi Gené for the lead of the race but the French driver eventually managed to pull away to claim his first victory with the American marque. Gené did his best to stay amongst the Chevrolets but after running wide at the Esse de Baixa while pushing Muller for the lead, he lost out to Huff and Menu, who crossed the line second and third respectively.

After finishing eighth in race one, Tom Coronel started race two on pole but spun out of the race at the second corner following contact with Rob Huff, with Gené taking the lead. Behind, BMW’s Andy Priaulx had to retire after crashing with Tarquini at turn one. Before the end of lap three, the Italian driver passed both Augusto Farfus and Gené to take the lead. Tarquini managed to pull away quickly to claim the race victory, followed by team-mate Gené and Muller in third.

After the first two rounds of the season, Muller and Tarquini lead the Drivers' Championship with 37 points, seven points ahead of Alain Menu. Rob Huff follows in fourth position with 28 points. Chevrolet leads the Manufacturers’ Championship with 70 points, with SEAT Customers Technology following with 66 points.