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BTW, SEAT: BMW wants its title back!

Saturday, 03. 7. 2009  –  Category: Aftermarket News, Main

BMW WTCC Fargus

While this doesn’t exactly rank as the most shocking announcement of the week, BMW race fans will sure be thrilled to see the official BMW announcements regarding the marque’s continued participation in the WTCC. After a highly successful string of championships, BMW’s teams will for the first time be in the role of the assailant, not the defender, of the title. In 2008 Yvan Muller, driving a diesel-powered SEAT, managed to upset the longstanding tradition of seeing a Munich car & driver take the trophy!

BMW fans will no doubt be familiar with the German automaker’s stellar history in Touring Car racing. From the legendary successes with the E30 M3 in the late 80’s/early 90’s, to Alex Zanardi’s groundbreaking win as the first double amputee to win a WTCC race, BMW is a longstanding fan favorite. For 2009, the teams from Germany, Italy/Spain, the UK will be vying for pole and race wins in the 320si we’ve seen on the grid for the last few years (with a variety of Motorsport division improvements made, of course!).

This year’s WTCC season will kick off in Brazil, as it has previously, and will see the series entering Africa for the first time, with races scheduled in Marrakesh toward the end of March. In total, the 2009 series will visit 12 countries on 4 continents, more than ever before.

For more details on history, teams, the cars and the people involved, you should definitely check out the 68 pages of press info (!!) BMW just released.

Tags: 3 Series, 320si, BMW, BMW 320si, Priaulx, Ravaglia, Schnitzer, Touring Car, World Touring Car Challenge, WTCC, Zanardi