The clear title favourite has to be Tarquini. I would expect the likes of Monteiro, Michelisz and Coronel to be nearer the front too from what we’ve got so far. Depending on how the Lada project is getting on (they’ve been testing and developing the car for nearly a year) then Thommo might throw up a few surprises. Best finish of 2012, 11th in Portugal in a car which has since done a lot more test mileage.
As for the Yokohama Trophy, we need to figure out who will be eligible. Tarquini, Monteiro, Thommo and Dudukalo are works entries so they are out. Winkelhock won’t be in as he has raced in F1 and Coronel has F1 testing experience so he’s out too. Michelisz won’t be in as Zengo are getting support from Honda.
So here’s the grid so far.
Bamboo Engineering Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T
James Nash (GBR)
Alex MacDowall (GBR)
Honda Racing Honda Civic
Gabriele Tarquini (ITA)
Tiago Monteiro (POR)
Engstler Motorsport BMW 320 TC
Franz Engstler (GER)
Charles Ng (HKG)
Lada Sport Lada Granta WTCC
James Thompson (GBR)
Aleksei Dudukalo (RUS)
Munnich Motorsport SEAT Leon WTCC
Rene Munnich (GER)
Marc Basseng (GER)
Markus Winkelhock (GER)
Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC
Mehdi Bennani (MAR)
ROAL Motorsport BMW 320 TC
Tom Coronel (NED)
Darryl O’Young (HKG)
Zengo Motorsport Honda Civic
Norbert Michelisz (HUN)