SEAT surprise with strong line-up

SEAT confirmed in a surprise move that the trio will join regular drivers Jordi Gene, Rickard Rydell and Peter Terting in a staggering six-car assault on next year's series in the new Leon.

Thompson and Tarquini became available after their current employers Alfa Romeo announced that they would quit the sport next season, and Muller has been hunting around for a WTCC deal after not renewing his contract with Vauxhall in the British championship.

Muller has driven for SEAT before in the WTCC predecessor, the European Touring Car Championship, competing in two races in 2003. The Frenchman has also been teammate to Thompson before in the BTCC, with Thompson winning the title twice to Muller's one championship in their time together.

The line-up shows how serious SEAT are in securing the WTCC drivers' and manufacturers' crowns, according to director of SEAT Sport Jamie Puig.

He said: "The introduction of Yvan Muller, Gabriele Tarquini and James Thompson will permit us to form a team with the same dimensions as our main competitors.

"Their experience in touring car racing will be an important strengthening for us after the first phase of development of the new Leon WTCC culminated with victory by Jordi Gene in Valencia.

"We are very optimistic that the 2006 season should see SEAT consolidate its aspirations and fight for the FIA World Touring Car Championship."

Interestingly, there is no place in the line-up for former BTCC Champion Jason Plato. It had been widely expected that the Briton would move to the WTCC team fulltime next season, having driven in a handful of races for the Spanish marque this season.

Plato could now remain in the BTCC, headlining SEAT's assault in that series.