YVAN MULLER and Alain Menu were the race winners at the British round of the World Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

Despite traditional English bad weather, thousands turned out to see the British race, the championship’s only round in the UK this season.

Ex-British Touring Car champion Muller made it a great first race for SEAT, with Leons in the top three. Peter Terting took second and Britain’s James Thompson was third.

Robert Huff (Chevrolet) had a podium finish in his sights on the last lap, but despite being nose-to-tail with Thompson he was unable to pass.

Britain’s world champion, Andy Priaulx, finished eighth.

Swede Rickard Rydell had started in pole position but dropped to third by the first corner and finished fifth.

Gianni Morbidelli had the best result of the N.technology team by finishing 12th in his Alfa Romeo 156.

Tom Coronel (GR Asia) won the independents’ race after Emmet O’Brien (Wiechers Sport) went off at Stirling’s.

Menu received a hero’s welcome back to the Chevrolet garage after the second race when he picked up the team’s first-ever race victory.

Rydell took second spot, with Thompson picking up third place.

Priaulx had a good start from pole, but his dreams of a home win were dashed on lap six when he ran into the gravel at Paddock Hill.

Priaulx managed to keep control and rejoined in 11th place, eventually fighting his way up to eighth.

Muller finished fifth, just edging out BMW Team Germany’s Dirk Muller.

Ryan Sharp won the independents’ race by finishing 13th.