Tarquini extends lead with win

Championship leader Gabriele Tarquini has won the first race of the day at his home track of Imola. The Italian took the chequered flag ahead of his team mate Yvan Muller. His closest opponent in the championship, Augusto Farfus did not finish the race.

Going into the first corner at the start there was chaos all over. Jordi Gene tapped the back of the Chevrolet of Robert Huff. The Briton consequently ran into Yvan Muller, who managed to continue in second with a big slide.

But their actions triggered a chain reaction behind them, with a lot of cars spinning and running into each other. Two BMW’s and SEAT’s were not able to continue, among them the biggest rival of Tarquini in the championship; Augusto Farfus. Jörg Müller, Rickard Rydell and Tiago Monteiro were the other drivers that had to stop their race.

The chaos allowed a couple of other drivers to get to the front of the field. Tom Coronel, started in 16th, found himself in fourth after the first corner, even though he was soon overtaken by Alessandro Zanardi. James Thompson was behind them in sixth.

On lap 3 the race got back on its way after the safety car went back into the pits. A lap later Nicola Larini ended his race in the gravel trap with a blown engine.

A lap later James Thompson was under big threat from Stefano D’Aste. The Italian tried to overtake the Lada, but failed.

The other Lada of Jaap van Lagen, racing in 10th place was pushed into the barriers on lap 9 by one of the Engstler cars. His car rolled, and his team will have to work hard in order to get him out again for the second race of the day.

On the final laps Andy Priaulx lost his 8th place and pole for the second race when he went of the track twice.