SEAT completed what they have threatened to do all season by locking out the podium in the first race at
Brands Hatch, the third round of the World Touring Car Championship, with Yvan Muller making a triumphant return to Britain ahead of Peter Terting and James Thompson.
With a wet circuit making conditions somewhat difficult, Yvan Muller proved why he was regarded as a ‘rain master' in the British championship by getting a stunning start from fourth on the grid to drive round his rivals at Paddock Hill Bend.
Once in the lead the Frenchman was never headed, although his win was not without constant pressure from Terting, Thompson, Rob Huff and Rickard Rydell, the quintet having comfortably pulled away from the remaining pack over the 14 laps.
At the start, Muller was the big winner, getting ahead of Terting when the German's bravery ran out before his team mate's as they braked into a treacherous Paddock Hill Bend. Pole sitter Rydell meanwhile had slipped to third behind his team mates by the first corner after bogging down.
From here Muller, Terting, Rydell, Thompson and Huff pulled away from Gabriele Tarquini, with Huff in particular making up for his disappointing start by shadowing the four SEATs lap in lap out.
Although Muller had looked to be eking out a slight gap over Terting initially, the German duly responded by driving back up to the rear of the Frenchman, taking the three car train behind him along. However, his enthusiasm resulted in a rather unrealistic attempt around the outside of Stirlings, a move that caused a flurry of activity among those directly behind.
With Terting delaying himself and those directly behind, Rydell slipped into the clutches of Thompson, the Brit duly making his move on the Swede to jump into third place. Third place became second when Terting made a mistake out of Graham Hill Bend, allowing Thompson to slip inside him at Surtees.
