The WTCC event at the Hungaroring came to an happy ending on the second race, with thousandths of spectators standing up, cheering and waving national flags as Norbert Micheliszs BMW crossed the line in first place.
Earlier, reigning world champion and current point leader Yvan Muller had won the first race, leading home his Chevrolet team-mates Rob Huff and Alain Menu at the end of another dominating performance put in by the RML-built Cruze cars.
But for the enthusiastic Hungarian fans 52,000 came to the track on the weekend the climax was reached during the twelve laps of the second race, with Michelisz at the front, welcomed by stadium-like roars at every passing on the main straight.
In terms of the championship fight, Alain Menu has moved a little step forward compared to his team-mates. With a third and a second in todays races, the Swiss has moved up to second, ahead of Huff, and closed a bit the gap from Muller (23 points).
Proteam Racings Mehdi Bennani was the events other hero. After claiming his best result ever in WTCC by finishing fourth in the first race, the Moroccan driver immediately bettered his performance, becoming the first
North African racer to achieve a podium result in an FIA World Championship.
The championship will resume at the Austrian Salzburgring, on May 20 for rounds 11 and 12.
Hungaroring, Budapest – 05 / 06 May 2012
www.fiawtcc.com – http://www.hungaroring.hu