MOTOR SPORT
Diesel power has been dominating first half of the World Touring Car Championship, can it take the title?
WIWAT CHANG
Diesel power could give Seat its first WTCC title. |
SEAT...................172pts
What's happened so far:
Taking advantage of the diesel-biased technical regulations, Seat decided to field five turbo-diesel racecars for the whole season and with immediately positive affect. The Spanish marque took seven wins - including four one-two - shared by all of their five drivers plus 11 podiums. The championship's three leading drivers are now from Seat - Italian Gabriele Tarquini, Frenchman Yvan Muller and Swede Rickard Rydell.
What now?: The turbo-diesel advantage over naturally aspirated petrol is harshly apparent and there is little to doubt Seat can continue this momentum to capture both the drivers and manufacturers titles.
BMW..................135pts
What's happened so far: Rear-wheel-drive handling advantage of BMW loosing ground to grunty turbo-diesel front-wheel-drive Seats. Despite that, Briton Andy Priaulx and Brazilian Augusto Farfus Jr. managed to win back-to-back on wet streets in France.
What now?: Priaulx must continue fighting for his dear life to even finish the season in top three, never mind keeping his title.
BMW is considering switching to diesel-powered 320d for next season.
CHEVROLET........115pts
What's happened so far: Running without any success ballasts to weigh them down, two Chevy drivers - Briton Robert Huff and Swiss Alain Menu - used the advantage to win two races in a row in Valencia, Spain.
What now? Repeat of wins unlikely, but they're closer to BMW than last year thanks to consistent driving from Huff and Italian Nicola Larini.
HONDA.................19pts
What's happened so far: Honda is not in the series as a works team; instead it's the Italian N.Technology team that runs a lone Accord Euro Rs on a short calendar.
The car is no match for the works team's machinery
What now?: They will hang in there for the sake of sponsorship but Briton James Thompson is just wasting his talent.
BMW considering oil-burning power for next year. |
Chevrolet still inconsistent. |
N.Technology's Honda is also-ran in WTCC. |
Russian Lada 110 racing for the kicks. |
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