James Nash claims first win in Austria

Bamboo-engineering’s James Nash took his first career win in the second race at the Salzburgring, defending against RML’s Yvan Muller in the final laps of the race.

After a race long battle for the lead with Nika Racing’s Michel Nykjaer in race one, Nash started from pole for the reversed grid race two, but lost the lead into the first corner to the Zengõ Motorsport Honda of Norbert Michelisz, but was able to repass the Honda on the back straight for the lead.

After a strong start the two Castrol Hondas of Tiago Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini were third and fourth, but Tarquini’s Honda struggled for pace, eventually falling back four places to finish eighth.

Rob Huff had a great start in his Münnich Motorsport SEAT, but was soon passed by Michel Nykjaer and Yvan Muller’s Chevrolets, and was stuck for much of the last part of the race behind Tarquini’s Honda whilst simultaneously under threat from Tom Coronel’s BMW.

Yvan Muller repeated his charge through the field from race one, passing Nykjaer’s Chevrolet for fifth on lap four and Oriola’s SEAT for fourth on lap five at what emerged as being his favourtite overtaking point down the back straight up to Turn 9.

On lap eight, Muller was able to get ahead of Monteiro’s Honda for the final spot on the podium, and three laps later overtook Michelisz at the same spot for second.

The Frenchman had run out of time to close the gap on Nash’s Chevrolet however, and the 27-year-old went on to take his first career win in the WTCC.

Yvan Muller extends his lead in the standings to 80 points over Gabriele Tarquini, whilst James Nash now moves up to third in the drivers’ standings.