Lopez win clinches World Touring crown

Jose Maria Lopez wrapped up the 2014 World Touring Car Championship drivers' title in style at Suzuka, claiming his ninth victory of the season in the opening race. The Argentinean only required a fourth-place finish to secure the championship, but from pole position led throughout in a flawless performance.

Outgoing champion Yvan Muller ran second to Lopez through the early laps, but consistently dropped three or four tenths of a second a lap to his Citroen teammate.

Muller was denied an almost certain runner-up position when his car suddenly slowed exiting Suzuka's cross-over on lap seven. The Frenchman had enjoyed a comfortable 4.2sec cushion over compatriot Hugo Valente before the rare Citroen technical issue, but the failure set up a thrilling battle for second in the closing laps.

RML Chevrolet privateers Valente and Chilton provided some of the race's best action, but mistakes from both men created the race's two key moments.

ROAL driver Chilton had held third from Valente away from the lights, as the Cruze racers benefited from third-qualifier Sebastien Loeb suffering a poor initial getaway.

At his bogey corner from qualifying, Briton Chilton ran wide on the exit of the fast 130R on the opening lap to allow the closely following Valente to grab third. Thereafter Chilton's focus was divided between recovering the position and defending from a fired-up Loeb.

Honda runners Norbert Michelisz and Gabriele Tarquini completed the five-car train, which after appearing to have settled into stalemate came alive when Valente missed the apex to the second part of Spoon corner one lap from home.

Chilton seized his chance and squeezed past, in what he described as a "beautiful" maneuver, but the shake-up to the order produced confusion at the chicane where Zengo man Michelisz took to the escape road.

Loeb had been gifted the final place on the podium when the struggling Valente ran wide at 130R, and Michelisz moved aside into Turn 1 to return his unfairly won position. Valente, however, would take the checkered flag in fifth place behind Michelisz, who is under investigation from race officials.

RESULTS - 11 LAPS: