Szymon Ładniak claimed an authoritative victory on the first visit of TCR Germany to the Salzburgring, with the Team Engstler driver seeing off an early challenge from team-mate Martin Andersen.
At the start, Andersen beat fellow Honda racer Ładniak away from the lights, but on lap three the Pole found a way back past into a lead which he would not lose.
Not only that, but Ładniak was able to then extend an 11-second advantage over the Dane to claim his first-ever win in the series.
“The win feels wonderful,” said Ładniak. “A few bad things went through my head when I was first with that much margin, but I made it. Standing here with the trophy is sensational.”
Andersen had a tough fight to hold on to second, with ROJA Motorsport’s René Kircher ultimately having to settle for the final podium place in his Hyundai i30 N, just half a second behind Andersen.
Robin Jahr also remained in the mix for a podium, but the ROJA Team Principal took fourth, following his team-mate home.
Double winner last time out, Jessica Bäckman had a difficult task after starting from the back of the grid due to an engine change penalty, but she fought her way through to fifth.
There was a sizeable gap to sixth, where 62-year-old Roland Hertner finished in his Liqui Moly Team Engstler Honda.
Race two gets underway at 13:45 CEST (12:45 BST) on Sunday.
Race result
| POS | NO | CL | NAT | DRIVER | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | BEST | GD |
| 1 | 21 |  |
Szymon ŁADNIAK | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Honda Civic Type-R FK7 TCR | 22 | 32:08.814 | 1:26.719 | 1 | |
| 2 | 19 |  |
Martin ANDERSEN | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Honda Civic Type-R FK7 TCR | 22 | 11.407 | 1:27.016 | 2 | |
| 3 | 8 |  |
René KIRCHER | ROJA Motorsport by ASL Lichtblau | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 22 | 11.910 | 1:27.028 | 3 | |
| 4 | 22 | |
Robin JAHR | ROJA Motorsport by ASL Lichtblau | Hyundai Veloster N TCR | 22 | 12.405 | 1:27.158 | 4 | |
| 5 | 26 |  |
Jessica BÄCKMAN | ROJA Motorsport by ASL Lichtblau | Hyundai Veloster N TCR | 22 | 14.162 | 1:27.056 | 12 | |
| 6 | 9 | |
Roland HERTNER | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Honda Civic Type-R FK7 TCR | 22 | 55.951 | 1:28.813 | 11 | |
| 7 | 11 |  |
Vincent RADERMECKER | maurer motorsport | Holden Astra TCR | 22 | 57.985 | 1:29.443 | 6 | |
| 8 | 13 | |
Max GRUHN | Gruhn Stahlbau Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR 2021 | 22 | 1:25.553 | 1:28.085 | 8 | |
| 9 | 38 | |
Kai ROSOWSKI | K-Ro Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR | 22 | 1:28.163 | 1:29.790 | 9 | |
| 10 | 17 |  |
Michael MAURER | maurer motorsport | Holden Astra TCR | 21 | + 1 LAP | 1:32.162 | 10 | |
| R | 27 |  |
Jonas KARKLYS | NordPass | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 12 | DNF | 1:27.734 | 5 | |
| R | 34 | |
Patrick SING | RaceSing | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 8 | DNF | 1:27.918 | 7 |