Priaulx narrows gap at the top

World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx closed in on the lead in the championship points standings as rival Jorg Muller suffered a day to forget at the German round in Oschersleben.

BMW driver Priaulx finished fifth and second and now trails new points leader and race two winner Augusto Farfus by one point.

Muller followed up his first race fourth with a no-finish second time out during his home round.

It was a big day for Seat as the diesel-engined Leon of Yvan Muller took the race one win, the first time a diesel-engined car had won a WTC race. Muller took the honours in race one ahead of Seat factory team-mate Gabriele Tarquini and the N Technology Alfa Romeo of James Thompson.

Jorg Muller, Priaulx, Jordi Gene (Seat) and Farfus (BMW) completed the top seven.

Farfus took the honours in race two ahead of Priaulx, Gene, Thompson, Yvan Muller, Rob Huff (Chevrolet) and Tarquini.

Former championship leader Jorg Muller was forced to retire after being involved in a first corner collision, so Farfus inherited the lead.

The fight between Farfus and Priaulx was breathtaking as they tangled at the end of lap four, nearly allowing Gene and Thompson to benefit.

Priaulx put pressure on Farfus for the whole race but the Brazilian managed to hold off all the assaults and went on to grab his third victory of the season to move into the championship lead by one point.