Valencia last European stop for WTCC in 2010

The World Touring Car circus races in Europe for the last time this weekend, as the championship battle continues before a six week break before resuming in Japan. The question is who will lead heading into this break.

The Valencia formbook is rather complicated, if there’s any car to have, theoretically it’s the Alfa Romeo 156 – but as no one has one, that’s a moot point. James Thompson completed a rare feat here, winning both races in 2007 with the Alfa, something only achieved once before by Jörg Müller at Magny-Cours in 2005.

This is SEAT’s home track, and despite completing a 1-2-3-4 sweep on the grid here last year, they’ve only won twice. Yvan Muller won the first race last year in the Leon TDI – but rewind four years to 2005 to see SEAT’s only other win in their backyard, the first win for the Leon ever in touring car racing for Jordi Gene from pole position.

Then also racing for SEAT that weekend was Marc Carol, in the older SEAT Toledo. Carol will return to the WTCC field, five years after his championship debut this weekend, in a car run by SEAT Customers Technology. Again, he doesn’t get the advantage of the latest Leon TDI, but with a petrol powered Leon, will at least run the advantage of 60kg less penalty ballast than the diesel cars.

Augusto Farfus managed to take victory in the second race last year for BMW, whilst Chevrolet was the No.3 team at the Spanish circuit last year, though they faired better with the Lacetti in 2008, winning both races with drivers Rob Huff and Alain Menu.

This year however, the Cruze has a full year of development behind it and has been quick at the fast circuits as well. SEAT have the same car and most of the same drivers, so there’s a known quantity there, so after two circuits which theoretically have favoured the BMW, SR-Sport have the chance to catch-up, especially after three disastrous races in a row for lead driver Gabriele Tarquini.

Andy Priaulx, now just 11 points behind Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller in the championship, knows it’s going to be tough for BMW at Valencia.

“Of course it would be nice to pick up in Valencia where we left off with winning in Oschersleben,” said Priaulx.

“However, we have been quite successful this season with taking things as they come and not putting ourselves under too much pressure. From now on, every point can be crucial in the fight for the title. Therefore my first goal is to score in both races. Let’s wait and see what’s possible beyond that.”

Muller thinks the BMW will have the advantage later in the races as the twisty Spanish track.

“Valencia is a twisty circuit, where our rear-wheel drive rivals should be very competitive, especially in the second part of the races,” said Muller.

“This said, we have seen this year that the Cruze has performed well on all types of circuits, and has been able to win on tracks theoretically less suited to the Cruze such as Brno and Oschersleben, so I think we will have good cards to play in our hands and we should be ready to fight for good results.”

After Oschersleben, three drivers will have to be on their best behaviour after incurring the wrath of the stewards in Germany. Chevrolet’s Robert Huff, SR-Sport’s Tiago Monteiro and Liqui-Moly Team Engstler’s Andrei Romanov will be serving the first of two races under threat of being hit with a 10-place grid drop should any unnecessary contact be deemed to take place.

With 50 points available this weekend, Yvan Muller for Chevrolet, Andy Priaulx for BMW or Gabriele Tarquini for SR-Sport can all leave the European season with the championship lead – meaning it’s all to play for in Spain.