Coronel`s challenge cut short

Tom Coronel’s attack for the WTCC Yokohama Independent’s trophy has taken a terminal hit, with lack of sponsorship forcing him him to miss the final two rounds at Japan and Macau. The decision came after his main sponsor, Pon Car, Dutch importer for SEAT, decided to cut the motorsport budget for this year due to the decreasing car sales.

A statement from Pon Car, in fact, reads as follows:”Due to decreasing passenger car sales, the motorsport budget has been cut with this decision [of leaving Tom Coronel out of the last two races]as a result.”

While the Dutch importer have had to make this decision, they assure that they are still keen on motorsports and want to continue with Tom Coronel: “At the same time, it is the intention to remain involved in motorsport, together with Tom Coronel. Various possibilities are being considered for the 2010 season, so that a well-balanced decision can be made.”

The withdrawal of the the Sunred SEAT Leon means Felix Porteiro is almost unchallenged for the trophy, currently leading the standings with 145 points. This is unless BMW rivals Franz Engstler and Stefano D’Aste show a marked performance in the new few rounds, having 104 and 89 points respectively.

The statement leaves the door open for a participation in the 2010 British Touring Car Championship, as rumoured at the beginning of this season. Another option for Coronel could be the Le Mans Series.

Coronel was lying in a close second place with 129 points, and just this weekend scored dutch manufacturers Spyker’s best class result with 2nd at the Le Mans Series at the Nurburgring.

Last year Coronel took his first ever WTCC victory at Okoyama, Japan (see photo).