However, while BMW were imperious in Germany despite their significant weight handicap, the disadvantage in Turkey is expected to be far greater than round the twists and turns of Oschersleben. Indeed, with its fast straights and significant undulations, the crests and troughs of the Istanbul circuit is likely to play into the hands of their less handicapped rivals. Unfortunately for
BMW, each of their cars will carry at least 20kg of deadweight, with Priaulx and Dirk Müller hauling around the maximum 60kg.
As a result, Turkey could well prove a struggle for BMW, something that could potentially play into the hands of Alfa Romeo who themselves have fallen away in the battle of the manufacturer’s championship and now find themselves closer to SEAT in third than they do to their main rivals on top. Oschersleben was a disastrous weekend for the Italian team, particularly as early on in the weekend they seemed to have the upper hand on their more weight biased rivals. Indeed, of their four drivers only Augusto Farfus Jr managed to reach the top eight, with a mere four points in the second race being added to the teams tally.
Disappointingly for the team, the races promised much more than they delivered too, with James Thompson inheriting pole position courtesy of Müller’s penalty and racing into a comfortable lead. However, Thompson was later penalised after his car was left on air-jacks long after the three minute board was shown on the grid. The Brit was duly given a drive-through penalty, placing him out of the running to finish down the order. Retirement in the second race only compounded his disappointment.
![Alex Zanardi leads at the start at Oschersleben [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/167257.jpg)
