Jorg Muller staved off a spirited last lap challenge from Andy Priaulx to triumph in the first round of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship at Curitiba,
BMW duly living up to their qualifying pace by dominating the race.
Livening up an otherwise rather processional BMW demonstration at the front of the field, Muller led Priaulx and team-mate Augusto Farfus over the line, the trio some eight seconds up on fourth place Gabriele Tarquini in the first of the SEATs, who in turn led the best of the Chevrolets, that being of Rob Huff in fifth.
Despite the good result for Chevrolet though, it was an otherwise disastrous race for Huff's team-mates Alain Menu and Nicola Larini following a skirmish on the first corner that eliminated five drivers from the race.
Indeed, while the rolling start was always expected to make the getaway safer and more even, instead the field bunched together into the exceptionally turn one esses, the inevitable occurring as cars bumped into one another.
The chain reaction begun when Yvan Muller slipped down the inside of Nicola Larini, tipping the Lacetti into a spin and pitching him into Pierre-Yves Corthals, who in turn clipped the second Chevrolet of Alain Menu. James Thompson was also caught out as Larini slid across his bow and caused terminal suspension damage.
The ensuing fracas claimed yet more victims though, with the damaged Luca Rangoni coasting with a damaged left-front and being collected by Olivier Tielemans, the Dutchman's retirement signalling the end to the race for both Alfa Romeos.
With the field down to just 15 runners, Muller led the cars back around to the safety car ahead of Priaulx and Farfus. Farfus had led across the line, getting the hammer down more effectively than his team-mate, but after looking as though he eased off to let Muller through to avoid any kind of penalty, Priaulx saw his opportunity and dived down the inside.
![Jorg Muller - BMW Team Germany 320si [pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/297357.jpg)
