SEAT to run two diesel cars in Sweden

Yvan Muller and Jordi Gene will race with the new engine, which the team believe will make them more competitive.

"The regulations allow us to register a car equipped with a diesel engine, and we were happy to rise to the challenge," said Jaime Puig, director of SEAT Sport.

"We are satisfied with the testing results and believe the Leon TDI can become a competitive car in the mid and long term."

Muller is SEAT's highest-placed driver in the championship this season, although the Frenchman is seventeen points adrift of the three BMWs ahead of him.

The Frenchman believes that the change in engine will solve the major problems that SEAT have faced this season.

"The chassis of the Leon is one of the best, but the straight-line speed is too slow and now we have found a good solution to this problem," said Muller.

"The diesel is a little slower in the corners because of the extra weight and there is more stress on the tyres, but it is a little quicker on the straights."

Gene has carried out the majority of the development work on the new engine, and he believes that it will be a strong package.

"We have been working on this project for several months, and appreciate it's great potential," he said.

"As our engine torque will be much higher, I think that in the mid-term, on certain tracks we can be competitive."

WTCC rules state that a diesel-powered car must run 30 kilograms heavier than its petrol counterpart.