WTCC: Lopez resists Monteiro to win second race

Jose Maria Lopez survived a late onslaught from Tiago Monteiro to win the main World Touring Car Championship race at Paul Ricard.

Lopez's Citroen led from lights to flag, but came under intense pressure from Honda driver Monteiro in the final laps and won by a mere 0.284 seconds in his C-Elysee.

Monteiro's teammate Norbert Michelisz completed the podium, securing his second third-place finish of the day.

It was Lopez's Citroen teammate Yvan Muller who made the best start, the Frenchman jumping ahead of outside front row man Monteiro. But while he and Monteiro were able to stay with Lopez in the opening laps, Muller soon dropped back and by the middle of the race trailed his teammate by three seconds.

Monteiro stalked the C-Elysee and, eyeing a gap as the pair approached the final corner, pounced with a robust move that pushed Muller wide – promoting both he and teammate Michelisz. From there Monteiro hunted down Lopez, but was never presented with a chance to pass the Argentinian who kept his cool to claim his third WTCC victory at Paul Ricard.

Muller finished fourth behind Michelisz, having faded towards the end of the race, while Nick Catsburg was fifth in the leading Lada Vesta.

Rob Huff recovered from being punted off at Turn 1 to finish a strong sixth, the Briton completing a number of decisive overtakes in the closing laps despite a considerate amount of damage to the rear of his Honda Civic to beat Hugo Valente in the second Lada.

Mehdi Bennani was eighth ahead of Sebastien Loeb Racing teammate Tom Chilton, while Fredrik Ekblom completed the points in his Polestar Volvo S60.

RESULTS - 17 LAPS

Originally on Autosport.com