Imola TCR: Grachev takes maiden win in Race 2

Front-row starter Jordi Gene got a perfect start to take the lead of the race after pole-sitter Attila Tassi lost momentum and dropped behind, allowing Grachev to slot in second.

Tassi was then caught up in a battle for third with Mat'o Homola, Stefano Comini, Pepe Oriola and Jean-Karl Vernay - and Homola eventually prevailed.

Up ahead, the lead changed on Lap 4 when Grachev went around the outside of Gene at Turn 1.

That was not it for Gene as he started to lose places and dropped to seventh, with fellow front row starter Tassi also losing ground.

Grachev, meanwhile, stretched his advantage to take his maiden win in his first outing in the Honda car with Homola finishing second, 1.7s behind.

The battle for the final podium spot was between Comini and Oriola, and it was the Swiss driver coming through to take third.

Oriola had allowed Comini to go past after running wide on the main straight but fought back, the duo soon joined by Vernay.

While Oriola tried to get third place back, he was in turn overtaken by Frenchman Vernay, leaving the lone remaining Craft Bamboo car of Oriola having to settle for fifth.

Early leader Gene eventually ended up in sixth with Tassi finishing seventh behind him.

Davit Kajaia, Jordi Oriola and Alain Menu, who narrowly managed to make it to the start after his crash in Race 1, completed the top 10.