Marrakech, Race 1 : Coronel takes victory after first-lap drama

The Dutch took up the lead after first lap contact

Tom Coronel kept José María López at bay to score his first FIA World Touring Car Championship win since 2013 in the Opening Race at WTCC AFRIQUIA Race of Morocco.

The Dutchman steered his way through an eventful first lap. James Thompson led from the DHL-presented pole position but later in the lap he was sent spinning off by contact from Hugo Valente behind him.

It didn’t take long for Valente to be handed a drive-through penalty, and when he served it, Coronel took up the lead. With Thed Björk and Nicky Catsburg also involved in contact on lap one, Citroën drivers López and Yvan Muller climbed up to second and third.

WTCC Trophy contender Coronel had to resist heavy pressure from López for the remainder of the 21-lap race, and there was even contact between the two under braking on the penultimate lap, but the ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze driver held on for his first outright victory since Japan in September 2013.

Muller completed the podium after keeping the trio of factory Hondas – in the order of Tiago Monteiro, Norbert Michelisz and Rob Huff – behind him.

Gabriele Tarquini was seventh ahead of Tom Chilton and the home hero Mehdi Bennani, up from 14th on the grid. Fredrik Ekblom completed the top 10 in his Volvo.