SEAT keeps the leadership in the World Touring Car Championship after the two races staged today at the German Oschersleben racetrack. The efforts of the SEAT Sport team, achieving three podium finishes, two for Rydell and one for Rydell, allowed them to continue on top of the championship standings both manufacturers’ and drivers’, which is now led by Gabriele Tarquini.
However, the difference between all title contenders is very small, which was exactly what had been forecasted by the team’s engineers, who knew that in Oschersleben, they were facing one of the most difficult venues. BMW is only one point behind SEAT in the manufacturers’ standings and Gabriele Tarquini holds the same advantage, one point, over Augusto Farfus, who is second in the drivers’ standings. Yvan Muller is third, after giving away several points due to an incident in the first race.
Starting from pole, Gabriele Tarquini took the lead of the first race, followed by Rickard Rydell, until they were both overtaken by Andy Priaulx. Both SEAT drivers kept their positions until the finish line, scoring important points for the championship. Their team mates had bad luck, since Jordi Gené and Tiago Monteiro were involved in an accident in turn one and Yvan Muller was forced to retire halfway the race after touching with Augusto Farfus.
In the second race, Gabriele Tarquini had an exceptional performance, taking his SEAT León TDI from eighth to third, which awarded him another podium finish and the lead in the drivers’ standings. Yvan Muller also made a great race, recovering from the back of the grid to seventh position, scoring points that may become decisive at the end of the season.
Jordi Gené had to retire shortly after the start, while Rickard Rydell did not make a good start. Tiago Monteiro made a good race as well, but he was hit by another driver in the last lap.
The efforts made by all SEAT drivers is noteworthy considering that the changes made in the technical regulations have reduced the race pace of the Leon TDI compared to the start of the season. Under these conditions, the fight against their main rivals becomes especially difficult, as admitted by Gabriele Tarquini, the best of the SEAT drivers in today’s races: “I’m a bit frustrated because despite making good practices and taking the pole, I don’t have the necessary race pace to fight against my rivals. The FIA reduced our performance and there is nothing else we can do. This is our level right now and therefore, although I’m happy to be leading the standings, I know that the race in Imola will be much harder than last year”.
Standings
1st race:
1. Priaulx (BMW) 22.52.247 2. Tarquini (SEAT) + 3.939 3. Rydell (SEAT) + 6.350 4. Coronel (SEAT) + 15.398 5. Larini (Chevrolet) + 22.502 6. Farfus (BMW) + 22.553 7. D´Aste (BMW) + 22.749 8. Engstler (BMW) + 23.044 9. Hernández (BMW) + 23.392 19. Monteiro (SEAT) Abandono: Muller (SEAT) / Gené (SEAT)
2nd race:
1. Farfus (BMW) 22.58.530 2. Priaulx (BMW) + 0.644 3. Tarquini (SEAT) + 5.177 4. Muller (BMW) + 7.976 5. Hernández (BMW) + 8.661 6. Larini (Chevrolet) + 13.596 7. Muller (SEAT) + 18.835 8. Coronel (SEAT) + 19.170 9. Huff (Chevrolet) + 25.377 10. Menu (Chevrolet) + 26.383 11. Rydell (SEAT) + 26.787 12. Monteiro (SEAT) + 29.148 Abandono: Gené (SEAT)
Drivers standings:
1. Tarquini (SEAT) 91 points 2. Farfus (BMW) 90 3. Muller (SEAT) 84 4. Priaulx (BMW) 66 5. Rydell (SEAT) 61 6. Muller (BMW) 58 7. Huff (Chevrolet) 54 8. Monteiro (SEAT) 34 9. Hernández (BMW) 33 10. Gené (SEAT) 32
Manufacturers standings:
1. SEAT, 235 2. BMW, 234 3. Chevrolet, 161 4. Lada, 67
Next race: September 19/20 in Imola (Italy)
Looking for more? Have a look below.
- WTCC: Pole for Gabriele Tarquini and great result for SEAT at the Oschersleben
- WTCC: SEAT keeps the leadership in both World Touring Car Championship standings
- WTCC: SEAT wins in Porto and continues dominance
- WTCC: SEAT Sport clinches three podium finishes in Marrakech
- WTCC: Yvan Muller clinches new podium finish for SEAT
