They will face new competition though from a similarly semi-works outfit coming courtesy of Peugeot Sport Denmark who return to the fray with the exciting 407 saloon. Although Peugeot have recently distanced themselves from entering the WTCC outright, an entry from the closely associated Peugeot Sport Denmark has added greater variety to the grid. Following some modest performances in the latter part of last year with the 307 hatchback, the 407 is expected to be more competitive but after some limited testing in the run up to Spa, the team’s hopes are somewhat conservative for the rest of the year. The effort is limited too with just one 407 being entered for the remaining races this year, but with driving duties being shared by Soheil Ayari and Eric Helary - who both recently qualified on pole for the legendary Le Mans race -, Peugeot have employed some impressive pilots for their debut WTCC foray. French Touring Car Champion and Peugeot regular, Ayari will drive first in Belgium before handing over to Helary in Germany
Just as competitive as the works championship, the Michelin Independents Trophy comes to Belgium with an invigorated tussle for the top spot between year-long leader Marc Hennerici and Tom Coronel who made his claim for his another title in Mexico with two class wins which included an eighth and a fifth place overall – the first points of the year for an Independent entry. In his GR Asia SEAT Toledo, Coronel has gradually been reducing the deficit to Hennerici but still has to find 15 points to get on terms with the German.
Having scored points overall in Spa last year, Coronel is expected to push Hennerici further but he will have to contend with a barrage of rear-wheel drive BMW’s, which traditionally go well at Spa so a win is not a foregone conclusion by all means. Joining Coronel is Valle Mäkelä who returns from being replaced in San Marino and Mexico by Carlos Mastretta, while Sascha Plöderl in the IPZ Racing Ford Focus should also be making the grid following his massive shunt at Imola.
![Dirk Muller [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/146044.jpg)
