Paul Ricard WTCC: Sebastien Loeb dominates opener for Citroen

Loeb's victory was dominant: he crossed the line six seconds ahead of Yvan Muller, who had to fend off the race long challenge of the seemingly quicker Jose Maria Lopez.

Their battle allowed Ma Qing Hua to close on the pair as Lopez's tyres began to fell away in the final laps, but he was unable to find a way past and took fourth.

For Loeb it was far simpler than for his team-mates and once clear of the opening corners, he was able to build a gap of over a second for the early stages before the scrap for second - which included slight contact between Muller and Lopez - handed him a bigger advantage.

There was little chance of a threat to Citroen from the chasing pack, and this was reflected by Tom Chilton's relative straightforward drive to fifth in the ROAL Chevrolet.

Behind him it was a battle of the Hondas. Tiago Monteiro had looked the quickest driver from the Japanese marque on Saturday, but in the race it was Norbert Michelisz who had the edge.

Starting eighth on the grid, he was able to make a rapid launch to quickly grab sixth on the opening lap.

Factory driver Monteiro had no answer to the Zengo car, but he did engage Hugo Valente in a thrilling battle for seventh that ended when Valente had to pit with damage after final-corner contact.

That handed Gabriele Tarquini eighth after he snatched ninth from Jaap van Lagen earlier on.

Race two poleman Mehdi Bennani also beat the Dutchman, finishing ahead of him in ninth as van Lagen settled for 10th in the leading Lada.

Van Lagen was part of a chaotic midfield battle from which team-mate Rob Huff was forced into retirement after suspension damage in the opening laps.

He lasted longer than third Lada driver Nicky Catsburg, who was unable to take his place on the grid and requires a new starter motor for the second race.

RESULTS - 16 LAPS: