Monteiro crossed the line second for his best result since switching to touring cars, while James Thompson rounded out the podium, the Brit gradually climbing up the order to eventually cross the line in third position. Tom Coronel was one of the stars of the race in fourth, although the Dutchman had run third before sliding off the circuit in the closing stages and losing out to Thompson.
It was Gabriele Tarquini though that enjoyed a magnificent surge in the final laps though, the drying line giving him the grip he needed to make his slick tyres work. The Italian sat just 15th with only a few laps to run before picking rivals off one-by-one, passing the Chevrolets of Larini and Rickard Rydell, as well as team-mate Yvan Muller, on the final lap to finish fifth. Muller though made history to score the first points for a diesel car in a World Championship race in sixth.
Larini crossed the line seventh, ahead of slick-shod Menu, who also charged from the back of the field in the closing stages to earn himself pole position for the second race.
![Rob Huff - Chevrolet Lacetti [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/356262.jpg)
