WTCC // SEAT & BMW TAKE VICTORIES @ ZOLDER

The FIA World Touring Car Championship made its first ever visit to the Belgium circuit of Zolder this weekend. In front of a raceday crowd of over twenty thousand the two race wins were shared between Seat and BMW. Race one saw current champion Gabriele Tarquini take victory after Sunred Sport Seat team-mate Jordi Gene was excluded for a technical infringement post race. The air restrictor on the Spaniard’s TDI Leon was found to not comply with the regulations thus robbing him of his first victory since Mexico 2008. Completing the podium were the RML Chevrolet's of Yvan Muller and Alain Menu... [read more]

Guernsey's Andy Priaulx made it three wins for the season in the reverse grid race two after fending off the chasing Chevrolet Cruze of Rob Huff and SR-Sport's Tiago Monteiro.

The multiple former champion felt at home at the former F1 circuit but explained that BMW are somewhat struggling for pace over a single lap, "“It was really nice to see so many spectators supporting our team so it felt like a home race for me. It was a similar atmosphere to being at Brands Hatch. Race 1 was much more exciting as after qualifying it was going to be a hard race. I kept attacking Coronel and getting through really was crucial to winning Race 2. I’d love to be able to win Race 1 as well but we just don’t have the pace in qualifying so Race 2 is our only chance of victory at the moment.”

Chevrolet retain their lead in the manufacturers championship while Frenchman and 2008 champion Muller still leads the drivers standings from Tarquini and Priaulx.

Results FIA WTCC Zolder Belgium 19-20th June 2010:

Race One:

1 Gabriele TARQUINI ITA SEAT Leon
2 Yvan MULLER FRA Chevrolet Cruze
3 Alain MENU SUI Chevrolet Cruze
4 Tiago MONTEIRO POR SEAT Leon TDI
5 Robert HUFF GBR Chevrolet Cruze
6 Norbert MICHELISZ HUN SEAT Leon TDI
7 1 Andy PRIAULX GBR BMW 320si
8 Tom CORONEL NED SEAT Leon TDI
9 Augusto FARFUS BRA BMW 320si
10 Fredy BARTH SUI SEAT Leon TDI


Race Two:

1 Andy PRIAULX GBR BMW 320si
2 Robert HUFF GBR Chevrolet Cruze
3 Tiago MONTEIRO POR SEAT Leon TDI
4 Alain MENU SUI Chevrolet Cruze
5 Yvan MULLER FRA Chevrolet Cruze
6 Gabriele TARQUINI ITA SEAT Leon TDI
7 Norbert MICHELISZ HUN SEAT Leon TDI
8 Augusto FARFUS BRA BMW 320si
9 Sergio HERNANDEZ ESP BMW 320si
10 Tom CORONEL NED SEAT Leon TDI

The series now moves on to Portimão, Portugal, on July 3rd/4th.

Editorial/Photos: Neil Tozer