Tiago Monteiro turned in a controlled performance to edge out Tom Chilton and extend his World Touring Car Championship lead to 40 points in the Opening Race at the Hungaroring.
The Portuguese driver inherited the lead after pole-sitter John Filippi stalled before holding the Citroen C-Elysee of Chilton at a margin of half a second throughout.
With championship rival Thed Bjork failing to finish after contact with Monteiro’s Honda team-mate Norbert Michelisz, the result sees the race-winner extend his advantage at the top of the standings.
Rob Huff cemented his early weekend form with third after passing Nestor Girolami’s Volvo around the outside of turn 2 on the penultimate lap and will start the Main Race from pole position.
The Briton was reprimanded in the closing stages by the officials for driving standards but avoided penalty.
Girolami eventually came home fourth ahead of Nicky Catsburg, with Marrakech race-winner Esteban Guerreri holding on to sixth from Medhi Bennani.
Yann Ehrlacher, Tom Coronel and the Zengo Motorsport Honda Civic of Aurelien Panis rounded out the top ten.
Home hero Norbert Michelisz collided with Bjork in the opening exchanges whilst debating third, leaving the Honda driver with a front-left puncture and the Volvo with race-ending damage.
Michelisz did head back out on circuit for a brief period after pitting, but elected to retire to maximise his team’s preparation time for the Main Race.
Tom Chilton took the honours in the WTCC Trophy courtesy of his runner-up spot on the rostrum. Honda claimed victory in the Manuacturers stakes.
Rd 5
Race result
| POS | NO | CL | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | BEST | GD |
| 1 | 18 | Tiago MONTEIRO |  |
Honda Racing Team JAS | Honda Civic WTCC | 12 | 22:28.644 | 1:51.701 | 2 | |
| 2 | 3 | T | Tom CHILTON |  |
Sébastien Loeb Racing | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 12 | 0.768 | 1:51.513 | 4 |
| 3 | 12 | T | Rob HUFF | |
ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 12 | 2.296 | 1:50.948 | 9 |
| 4 | 61 | Néstor GIROLAMI |  |
Polestar Cyan Racing | Volvo S60 Polestar | 12 | 4.537 | 1:51.357 | 6 | |
| 5 | 63 | Nicky CATSBURG |  |
Polestar Cyan Racing | Volvo S60 Polestar | 12 | 5.221 | 1:51.242 | 7 | |
| 6 | 86 | T | Esteban GUERRIERI | |
Campos Racing | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 12 | 10.308 | 1:50.854 | 8 |
| 7 | 25 | T | Mehdi BENNANI |  |
Sébastien Loeb Racing | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 12 | 10.893 | 1:51.686 | 14 |
| 8 | 68 | T | Yann EHRLACHER |  |
RC Motorsport | LADA Vesta WTCC | 12 | 13.183 | 1:52.075 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | T | Tom CORONEL | |
ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 12 | 21.703 | 1:52.567 | 12 |
| 10 | 8 | T | Aurélien PANIS | |
Zengő Motorsport Kft | Honda Civic WTCC | 12 | 37.886 | 1:53.805 | 13 |
| 11 | 34 | Ryo MICHIGAMI |  |
Honda Racing Team JAS | Honda Civic WTCC | 12 | 38.532 | 1:54.106 | 11 | |
| 12 | 24 | T | Kevin GLEASON |  |
RC Motorsport | LADA Vesta WTCC | 12 | 38.808 | 1:54.279 | 15 |
| 13 | 99 | T | Dániel NAGY |  |
Zengő Motorsport Kft | Honda Civic WTCC | 12 | 39.607 | 1:54.480 | 16 |
| 14 | 27 | T | John FILIPPI | |
Sébastien Loeb Racing | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 11 | 1 Lap | 1:53.038 | 1 |
| R | 5 | Norbert MICHELISZ | |
Honda Racing Team JAS | Honda Civic WTCC | 7 | DNF | 1:53.496 | 5 | |
| R | 62 | Thed BJÖRK |  |
Polestar Cyan Racing | Volvo S60 Polestar | 3 | DNF | N/A | 3 |