Following its inaugural trip to Central America, so as to redeem its new global status, the
FIA World Touring Car Championship resumes usual order this week with the series returning to Europe and Belgium for rounds eleven and twelve at the legendary Spa-Francochamps circuit.
Almost the contrast to the tight and twisty Puebla track, Spa will be a welcome sight for many of the leading drivers who struggled to post decent results in Mexico. Indeed, with the likes of Jörg Müller, Dirk Müller, Andy Priaulx and Gabriele Tarquini all struggling on the tricky circuit, some unfamiliar names took the opportunity to sit higher up on the results sheet than usual, not least Roberto Colciago, Rob Huff and Peter Terting, who all impressed in the first meeting to take it steps out of Europe since the championships metamorphosis at the beginning of the year.
It was a meeting to forget for
BMW who could only rely on semi-works entry Antonio García to score good points following a chain of events that ruined any chances of strengthening their fragile manufacturers lead over Alfa Romeo. The two brands go into Belgium level on points after the Munich marque managed just a total of 16 points, compared to their rivals 29 points and even the 23 points scored by SEAT. Nonetheless, long time championship leader, Dirk Müller, continues to top the standings despite failing to score a single point in his heavily ballasted 320i at Puebla. The result has allowed his main rivals to close the gap, but with others also in the wars, the outcome of the weekend could have been much worse for the German.
![Dirk Muller [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/146044.jpg)
