With just a lap remaining, Priaulx was declared the winner, having held off a spirited challenge from Morbidelli, the Italian securing his first WTCC podium for Alfa Romeo, while Zanardi was left to wonder what may have been in third place, the
BMW driver having to start the first race from last when he crashed in qualifying.
James Thompson led a SEAT train of Gabriele Tarquini and Peter Terting in fourth, fifth and sixth places, while Jorg Muller benefited from the countback system following Menu's crash to take seventh instead of the ninth he had slipped to a lap previous. Rob Huff took the final point, going someway to make up for an otherwise disappointing weekend for Chevrolet.
Tom Coronel claimed the Independents victory in an eventful race for the privateer category. The lead changed hands several times in the various fracas, with Ryan Sharp hopes dented after being collected by another car, leaving him with a massive dent in his door and a damaged rear-end.
Still, he recovered to finish a place behind the equally battle scarred Coronel in 12th place, with Diego Romanini and Lucas Molo claiming third and fourth due to being the only remaining independents to finish the race.
With plenty of repair work to do for several teams, they will be glad to have a month before heading up north to Mexico and Puebla circuit that delivered two of the best races in 2005.
Once there, Priaulx will once again be leading the championship ahead of Thompson and Tarquini, who continue to score solid points for SEAT. The big losers however have been Jorg Muller, Dirk Muller and Yvan Muller who secured just two points between them in both races.
