As the First ever BTCC race in Ireland got under way, it was Triple Eight driver Yvan Muller who got away in the lead. James Thompson's wheels spun on the line as he tried to get away, allowing team mate Phil Bennett to pass, however, Thompson did re-pass him before the end of the lap. Forty-five seconds after the Tourers, the Production class got under way. Going in to the first corner, GR Motorsport driver Mat Jackson led from Simon Graves, having moved up from fourth position on the grid, although Roger Moen, who qualified third, started the race from the back of the grid, after the team were forced to change his engine after qualifying. Graves re-passed Jackson on the way out of that same corner, but shortly afterwards, both were passed by Jackson's team mate, Gareth Howell. Graves and the second of the Focuses came together following the second corner, leaving Howell leading from Kaye, Jackson and then Pyper.

As the Touring class drivers completed their second lap, a gap had opened up between each, with Muller ahead of Plato, Thompson and Bennett. Behind them, Eaves was ahead of Soper and Luby, before the engine in Dan Eaves' Peugeot blew. On lap five, James Kaye managed to pass Howell to take the race lead, and proceeded to open up a comfortable gap. Lap seven saw Ruokonen's engine blow, leaving a trail of smoke and oil behind him, before pulling off. On lap 9, Gavin Pyper passed Howell for second position.

By lap 11, Yvan Muller was up in to second overall, and soon passed Kaye to take the race lead. A couple of laps later, Jason Plato encountered what has been one of the main concerns about the Mondello Park circuit. A loose section of kerb caused the Astra to develop a puncture in the front right tyre. He continued for just over a lap, before entering the pits to have the wheel changed. In the mean time, the same problem hit fellow Astra driver Phil Bennett, and he pitted at the same time as Plato. This left Muller to lead from Thompson and Steve Soper. In the Production class, Kaye was ahead of Pyper and Howell going in to the last lap, but as Plato came round to pass Gavin Pyper, the Alfa driver locked up, allowing Howell to take second place, and Moen also moved up to third.

Driver Quotes:

Yvan Muller: Asked how the circuit drove, Muller said; " We are still having a problem with the brakes because of the weight and there are no long straights to cool them down."

"I heard somebody say that the extra weight may help us go quicker, but that has to be the most stupid thing I've heard. I am a bit worried about the brakes for the second race"

James Kaye: "It's a fantastic circuit, the facilities are great. The whole place is just fantastic. There are so many types of corner - slow, fast - that make it a real challenge."

"I knew we were running a lot of weight this weekend but everything just seemed to click together,"

Gareth Howell: "I'm really chuffed, because I didn't have a great night race at Silverstone. I got a great start off the line and by the middle of lap one, I found myself leading. I could see James [Kaye] behind me and I thought 'He's going to catch me'. Eventually Gavin [Pyper] passed me and at that point I was happy to sit behind him and settle for the points. But on the last lap he locked up - I couldn't believe my luck!"