EAVES TAKES RACE ONE VICTORY

Eaves, in his Team Halfords Honda, passed SEAT driver Jason Plato in the closing stages to win in front of a huge crowd.

Third, closing on Plato, was Eaves’ team-mate Matt Neal who has extended his championship lead heading into the second of this afternoon’s three races. Neal’s closest championship rival Yvan Muller came in a distant sixth.

Tom Chilton led the first half of the race in the Arena team’s Honda but needed a pit stop to change a tyre.