# 14 - 11 April 2008
SEAT'S BEST TRIUMPH EVER
The FIA's WTCC Mexican event resulted in a complete triumph
for SEAT, which Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport director, described
as "the best day ever for SEAT." A triumph that,
according to the figures released by the event promoter, was
attended by 81,700 spectators on the three days.
After claiming pole position Jordi Gené, the Spanish
manufacturer monopolised the top positions in both races.
Gené dominated the first one, followed by Rickard Rydell.
In the second race Tiago Monteiro claimed his first WTCC victory,
and the León cars (including Tom Coronel's petrol-powered
TFSI) filled the top six places,
SEAT Sport drivers and their turbo-diesel machines have won
all four races held so far and it is no surprise to find them
on top of the Drivers' Championship. Rydell (the only one
who still has to win a race) leads with 26 points, followed
by Gabriele Tarquini (24) and Yvan Muller (22). Gené
lies fourth (15) and Monteiro sixth (12), with BMW's world
champion Andy Priaulx in between (14).
Chevrolet tried to hold the yellow tide back and partially
succeeded in qualifying, when Nicola Larini nearly stole pole
position, and in the first race, with Larini third, the first
podium result of the season for the team. But in the second
race Alain Menu could not withstand the charge of the "SEAT
Brigade".
Puebla is a circuit that suits front-wheel-drive cars better.
This was proven once again by the troubles met by the BMW
drivers as they chased the SEAT and Chevrolet cars. Priaulx
finished eighth in Race 2, scoring BMW's only point.
CORONEL'S GREAT WEEKEND
Tom Coronel turned 36 last Saturday and gave himself a great
birthday present, managing to reliably finish the whole Mexican
event in his SEAT León TFSI run by SUNRED Engineering
Development.
After he set the third fastest qualifying time the Dutchman
scored in both races. He was close to the podium in Race 1
(fourth ahead of SEAT Sport's drivers Tarquini, Muller and
Monteiro), and was classified sixth in Race 2.
On Saturday evening, Tom celebrated his birthday in the paddock
during a Mexican-style party that culminated in him smashing
the traditional piñata full of sweets.
A THREE-MEN LEAD IN INDIE TROPHY
After four races, three men share the leadership in the WTCC's
Independents' Trophy on 28 points: Pierre-Yves Corthals, Olivier
Tielemans and Stefano D'Aste.
Corthals completed a hat trick in Puebla, setting pole position
and winning both rounds 3 and 4. Tielemans - a double winner
in Curitiba - collected only two fifth places in Mexico, but
these were enough for him to maintain the lead.
As for D'Aste, he has yet to win a race but thanks to his
consistency has collected more points than everybody else:
30.
However, the 2-point penalty he received (equal to the gap
with which he won the 2007 title) placed him on equal points
as his two rivals.
And it won't just be a three men fight for the crown as there
are two other serious pretenders: D'Aste's team-mate, Sergio
Hernández, and Franz Engstler. They currently lie fourth
and fifth with gaps of 5 and 7 points respectively.
SEVEN TEAMS TO TEST IN VALENCIA
Seven teams have confirmed their participation in the WTCC
official test that will be held next week at Valencia's Ricardo
Tormo circuit, on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th.
The three BMW national teams will all attend: BMW Team UK
with Andy Priaulx, BMW Team Germany with two cars for Jörg
Müller and Augusto Farfus, BMW Team Italy-Spain with
two cars for Alessandro Zanardi and Félix Porteiro.
SEAT Sport's five drivers - Gené, Rydell, Tarquini,
Muller and Monteiro - will take turns on three León
TDI cars, while Chevrolet will bring only one Lacetti. The
SUNRED Engineering will go to Valencia with Coronel's SEAT
León TFSI.
They will be joined by James Thompson's N.technology Honda
Accord Euro R. For the Briton and the Italy-based team this
will be the first serious confrontation with their competitors
in view of their debut in the championship in one month time
on the very same track. The team will shake the car down this
afternoon at Franciacorta test track.
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