WTCC: Lopez triumphs in Vila Real opener

Reigning World Touring Car champion Jose Maria Lopez led flawlessly from pole position to victory in race one in Vila Real, followed home by Citroen teammate Sebastien Loeb.

Third-place qualifier Hugo Valente in the Campos Chevrolet had admitted on Saturday that he was apprehensive about the start, which is conducted on a part of the track off the racing line. Those fears came to pass as he was swallowed up as the lights went out while the front row Citroen duo moved clear.

Honda privateer Norbert Michelisz moved up from fourth to third, followed by the factory Civics of Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro. As Valente finally got up to speed he became the meat in a Citroen sandwich as Yvan Muller and Ma Qing Hua, who had already dispatched the Ladas of Jaap van Lagen and Nicky Catsburg, tried to go by on each side. Valente was clipped by both cars, more firmly by Ma's, and cruised into the pits to retire.

Loeb could keep Lopez in sight but could not get close enough to mount a challenge, and the order up front remained set throughout. After the first-lap fracas, Ma and Muller ran in sixth and seventh but gave fifth-placed Monteiro no trouble.

Ladas occupied the final three places in the top 10 as van Lagen built a gap from Catsburg, who had Rob Huff looming in his mirrors for the majority of the race.

RESULTS - 13 LAPS:

Originally on Autosport.com