Outgoing TCR International Series champion Stefano Comini took victory in the series finale at Dubai Autodrome.
He inherited the lead after polesitter Attila Tassi – his main rival for the runner-up spot in the standings – was adjudged to have jumped the start and was subsequently handed a drive-through penalty.
Tassi, however, was able to fight back to 12th, and with neither Hyundai i30 scoring championship points ahead due to their temporary homologation, the Hungarian scored a single point to retain second in the table.
Gianni Morbidelli put pressure on Comini’s Audi RS 3 throughout the race distance, but was unable to find a place to pass in the WestCoast Racing Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR.
M1RA’s third driver Josh Files secured his first podium in the TCR International Series with third, after a first lap that saw the Brit gain eight places from his grid position, before moving up further due to Tassi’ penalty and Denis Dupont’s retirement.
Frédéric Vervisch came out on top of a thrilling scrap with Comtoyou Racing team-mate Dupont, who later retired with a front-left puncture, to seize fourth, ahead of the non-scoring Alain Menu, who put in another impressive showing from the Hyundai i30 from a midfield starting slot.
Benjamin Leuchter was able to edge out impressive debutante Gordon Shedden to retain sixth on the road, though the latter’s team-mate, recently crowned champion Jean-Karl Vernay, stopped on circuit with two laps remaining.
Dušan Borkovic (Alfa Romeo Guilietta) held on in front of Gabriele Tarquini, who survived heavy contact in the opening exchanges with the Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT Leon of race one winner Pepe Oriola to register ninth, with Georgia race-winner Davit Kajaja rounding out the top ten.
The result means Craft-Bamboo retain second in the Teams’ Championship ahead of Leopard Racing WRT.
Race result
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | BEST | GD |
| 1 | 1 | Stefano COMINI |  |
Comtoyou Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR | 17 | 26:32.641 | 1:29.579 | 2 |
| 2 | 10 | Gianni MORBIDELLI |  |
West Coast Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 17 | 1.190 | 1:29.470 | 5 |
| 3 | 95 | Josh FILES |  |
M1RA | Honda Civic Type-R TCR | 17 | 5.008 | 1:29.655 | 13 |
| 4 | 6 | Frédéric VERVISCH |  |
Comtoyou Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR | 17 | 6.815 | 1:29.895 | 11 |
| 5 | 33 | Alain MENU | |
BRC Racing Team | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 17 | 9.232 | 1:29.642 | 20 |
| 6 | 13 | Benjamin LEUCHTER |  |
West Coast Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 17 | 9.483 | 1:29.690 | 7 |
| 7 | 73 | Gordon SHEDDEN | |
Leopard Racing Team WRT | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 17 | 11.453 | 1:29.671 | 9 |
| 8 | 62 | Dušan BORKOVIĆ |  |
GE-Force | Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR | 17 | 15.440 | 1:29.532 | 14 |
| 9 | 30 | Gabriele TARQUINI | |
BRC Racing Team | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 17 | 17.117 | 1:28.912 | 12 |
| 10 | 16 | Davit KAJAIA |  |
GE-Force | Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR | 17 | 21.421 | 1:30.034 | 18 |
| 11 | 54 | James NASH | |
Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing | SEAT León TCR | 17 | 23.272 | 1:30.350 | 10 |
| 12 | 9 | Attila TASSI |  |
M1RA | Honda Civic Type-R TCR | 17 | 23.385 | 1:29.343 | 1 |
| 13 | 28 | Aurélien PANIS |  |
Boutsen Ginion Racing | Honda Civic Type-R TCR | 17 | 23.542 | 1:30.089 | 17 |
| 14 | 18 | Duncan ENDE |  |
Icarus Motorsports | SEAT León TCR | 17 | 24.355 | 1:29.916 | 19 |
| 15 | 2 | Jean-Karl VERNAY | |
Leopard Racing Team WRT | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 15 | 2 Laps | 1:29.395 | 8 |
| 16 | 27 | Aurélien COMTE | |
DG Sport Compétition | Opel Astra TCR | 15 | 2 Laps | 1:29.906 | 21 |
| 17 | 4 | Denis DUPONT | |
Comtoyou Racing | SEAT León TCR | 13 | 4 Laps | 1:29.607 | 4 |
| R | 70 | Mat’o HOMOLA |  |
DG Sport Compétition | Opel Astra TCR | 3 | DNF | 1:30.817 | 15 |
| R | 74 | Pepe ORIOLA |  |
Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing | SEAT León TCR | 1 | DNF | N/A | 6 |
| NS | 17 | Daniel LLOYD | |
Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing | SEAT León TCR | – | DNS | N/A | 3 |
| NS | 5 | Roberto COLCIAGO | |
M1RA | Honda Civic Type-R TCR | – | DNS | N/A | 16 |