Wednesday, 18th June 2008

Gabriele Tarquini enjoys an unexpected victory as the World Touring Car Championship makes its annual stop in the Czech Republic.

Gabriele Tarquini was able to celebrate an unexpected victory for SEAT in the latest rounds of the World Touring Car Championship at Brno to extend his lead at the head of the drivers' championship standings.

At a circuit where SEAT had never won in the past, the Italian placed his Leon TDi in fifth place on the grid and despite suffering with his tyres in the latter stages of race one, he managed to secure a solid sixth place.

That put the points leader on the second row of the grid for race two and a solid start saw him jump into second place off the line behind team-mate Yvan Muller. Holding station behind the Frenchman through the first lap, Tarquini took the lead on lap two and pulled out a handy lead over his team-mate and the chasing pack and it proved to be key as race one winner Alex Zanardi stormed through the field to pass Muller for second and set about chasing down Tarquini's Leon.

Although his countryman closed right onto the rear of his car in the final corners Tarquini was able to hold on for a second win of the season to extend his lead over Muller to 15 points heading into the next round of the year at Estoril.

"I couldn't even dream about scoring so many points and getting a victory on this track which is so favourable for BMW and with such a heavy car," Tarquini said. "It's been a great day for me and the key to the races has been the good start, Yvan Muller's help and Thompson's fight with the BMW."

Muller proved to be the only other SEAT driver who was able to score on race day, finishing eighth and fifth in the two races, which allowed SEAT also retain its manufacturers' championship lead.

"I'm very happy for the great work done by the team throughout the weekend under rather unfavourable conditions," SEAT Sport director Jaime Puig said. "SEAT achieved its first victory in Brno thanks to Gabriele's excellent driving and the outstanding performance of Yvan; and we have achieved our aim of keeping the leadership in the world championship.

"I hope that this weekend the FIA Bureau will take measures that will allow all constructors to fight under equal conditions."

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