Monteiro re-signs with SUNRED SEAT

Monteiro was a factory SEAT driver for the three seasons before the company ended its works involvement in the WTCC, and like Tarquini, he then stayed on when SUNRED took on the cars on an independent basis last year.

The team had hoped to hang on to both Monteiro and Tarquini, and the Portuguese ex-Formula 1 driver has now joined his Italian colleague in agreeing to stay with SUNRED.

"I am happy that SEAT and our partners have put their trust on me and I am delighted to race one more year in a championship which is, by all means, one of the very best in the world," said Monteiro, who was fifth in the 2010 standings.

"2011 will be an extension of 2010, with the same technical structure and the same conditions. I want to profit from the experience I have acquired over the past few years and translate that into my best raw results."

SUNRED has also retained second-year drivers Michel Nykjaer and Fredy Barth, and added SEAT Eurocup graduates Pepe Oriola and Aleksei Dudukalo to make a six-driver line-up with Tarquini and Monteiro.

Tarquini told this week's AUTOSPORT magazine that despite previously expressing reservations over spending a second year with a privateer squad, he felt staying with SUNRED offered the best chance of getting a new factory drive in the future.

"I trust in this championship," said Tarquini. "I want to stay in the WTCC to wait for some other manufacturers.

"My target is to sign for a new manufacturer. I have personally spoken to three or four, and they are interested in coming. Maybe in 2012 we will see three or four new manufacturers."