BMW & SEAT decision expected next week

BMW and SEAT are expected to announce their plans for the World Touring Car Championship 2010 next week. BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen has confirmed officially that their plans will decided on december the 5th. Unfortunately no good news is expected.

BMW is expected to either pull out completely or reduce their program significantly.

BMW Team Italy/Spain, or Ravaglia Motorsport, is according to our sources set to leave WTCC and instead focus on the Italian series Superstars. Team Schnitzer is rumored to be heading for endurance racing.

RBM is expected to be the sole manufacturer supported BMW team in WTCC next year with two or three cars on the grid. Autosport reports Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus as two of the drivers.

SEAT are also expected to turn up with a seriously reduced program. Of the current SEAT drivers, Gabriele Tarquini and Jordi Gené are most likely to remain. Any further SEAT drivers are most likely going to be pay-drivers.

The WTCC is heading in to an uncertain future. The question is if the series manages to regain the lost entries with the new rules scheduled for 2011. Series manager Marcello Lotti is confident that the series will succeed.

“I am working hard to have two new manufacturers when our new rules arrive in 2011. I’m sure we will have more than four,” said Lotti to Autosport.