Priaulx titles hopes take a blow
Andy Priaulx's hopes of claiming a fourth World Touring Car Championship title suffered a blow in Valencia as he finished behind championship leader Yvan Muller in both races on Sunday.
The Guernseyman had entered the weekend just 11 points behind the Frenchman with three meetings to go in the race for the title, but he could only finish fifth and fourth while Muller recorded a pair of second-place finishes to extend his advantage to 25 points.
But it was a good weekend for defending champion Gabriele Tarquini who hauled himself back into contention as he took victory in race one and followed that up with a third-place finish later in the afternoon. Former Formula One driver Tiago Monteiro took the spoils in race two.
SEAT driver Tarquini had started from pole at the Spanish manufacturer's home circuit and he dominated race one as he led from lights to flag for a straightforward win.
Muller followed him home after moving past Chevrolet team-mate Rob Huff for second.
Jordi Gene held off Priaulx to take fourth while Alain Menu dropped back to eighth to take pole on the reverse grid for race two.
Priaulx would have fancied his chances of a win in that second battle but a disastrous opening lap all but extinguished those ambitions.
The BMW driver found himself squeezed through the first two corners and then punted Menu off, with the loss of momentum allowing Fredy Barth to get away in the lead with Monteiro, Muller, Tarquini and Gene also moving clear of the Briton.
Monteiro made the most of the mess behind him to pass Barth and go on and make sure SEAT claimed a double win on home soil with a grateful Muller choosing to settle for a comfortable second.
Priaulx found himself locked in a battle with Tarquini for the final podium spot and moved ahead of the Italian with a lap to go. But Tarquini quickly re-passed his rival and held on for the remainder of the final tour.
The Guernseyman had entered the weekend just 11 points behind the Frenchman with three meetings to go in the race for the title, but he could only finish fifth and fourth while Muller recorded a pair of second-place finishes to extend his advantage to 25 points.
But it was a good weekend for defending champion Gabriele Tarquini who hauled himself back into contention as he took victory in race one and followed that up with a third-place finish later in the afternoon. Former Formula One driver Tiago Monteiro took the spoils in race two.
SEAT driver Tarquini had started from pole at the Spanish manufacturer's home circuit and he dominated race one as he led from lights to flag for a straightforward win.
Muller followed him home after moving past Chevrolet team-mate Rob Huff for second.
Jordi Gene held off Priaulx to take fourth while Alain Menu dropped back to eighth to take pole on the reverse grid for race two.
Priaulx would have fancied his chances of a win in that second battle but a disastrous opening lap all but extinguished those ambitions.
The BMW driver found himself squeezed through the first two corners and then punted Menu off, with the loss of momentum allowing Fredy Barth to get away in the lead with Monteiro, Muller, Tarquini and Gene also moving clear of the Briton.
Monteiro made the most of the mess behind him to pass Barth and go on and make sure SEAT claimed a double win on home soil with a grateful Muller choosing to settle for a comfortable second.
Priaulx found himself locked in a battle with Tarquini for the final podium spot and moved ahead of the Italian with a lap to go. But Tarquini quickly re-passed his rival and held on for the remainder of the final tour.
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