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Monteiro, Tarquini Share Thrilling Wins at Portimao

The Portimao weekend had everything to offer the Portuguese fans in the grandstands, as both races provided them with some great racing action from the WTCC field. As far as the first race is concerned, the fans had every reason to celebrate, as SEAT's Tiago Monteiro scored a superb victory on home soil.

Monteiro had a great start from pole position and, after a few laps, it seemed pretty clear that nothing would stand in his way to clinching his first WTCC win since Estoril 2008. However, while the first part of the race was rather event-less, the second part saw former WTCC champion Yvan Muller closing the gap on the Portuguese driver and making several attempts for the lead.

Behind them, reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini and BMW's Augusto Farfus increased their pace and soon began to trail the leading duo. However, all the Top 4 positions were to remain the same until the chequered flag, none of them managing to pull off an overtaking maneuver late in the race.

Fifth overall in Race 1 was Chevrolet's Alain Menu, while followed closely by SEAT's trio Tom Coronel, Norbert Michelisz and Fredy Barth.

The second race, however, was a thriller to remember, with front row starters Norbert Michelisz and Fredy Barth losing pace from the get go. The latter was down to 8th place after the first lap, while the former eventually retired in the pits after a poor race. That being said, it was Menu who took the lead early, but seconds later 6th placed on the grid Gabriele Tarquini made a successful overtaking maneuver for the lead and jumped into 1st place.

From that point on, the Italian driver was not to be challenged for the win, while a bunch of Chevrolets started battling for podium places behind him. It was Muller who eventually took the runner-up spot in the end, after passing both Coronel and teammate Alain Menu. The latter looked to secure a well-deserved 3rd place in the end, but Rob Huff proceeded to a late charge for the podium and overtook the Swiss driver in the final lap.

Tom Coronel would eventually lose two more positions by the chequered flag to BMW's duo Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus, while the last point-scoring position was taken by Race 1 winner Tiago Monteiro.
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