Intro:

World Touring Car Championship leader Jose Maria Lopez of Argentina claimed a win and a second place at the Race of Belgium on Sunday (22 June), to maintain his 39-point lead over French reigning champion Yvan Muller.

Script:

Round seven of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) took the drivers and teams to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on Sunday.

Yvan Muller and his teammate Jose Maria Lopez, both of Citroen, led from the front.

The first casualty of the day was Great Britain's Robert Huff, spinning off the track.

Back up the front, and the Citroen pair were fighting it out. but the Argentine, Lopez had to watch from behind as Muller led Race One from start to finish to claim his fourth victory of the season.

Lopez to took second place and didn't lose too much of his advantage in the title race.

Muller sitting just seven points off the leading Lopez.

Race Two was a different story, with Lopez surviving a coming together with Hugo Valente on the opening lap.

After that, the points leader scythed his way through the field from his ninth position on the reversed-grid race.

Lopez took the chequered flag to win by 3.1 seconds, with Muller second and Dutch veteran Coronel third - his second podium finish of the campaign.

Lopez moved to 255 points and maintained his 39-point lead over Muller at the top of the standings as a result.

Round eight of the 12-event series is scheduled to take place in Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina, on 3 August.