Photo: WTCC Media/SEAT NL

Tom Coronel joins new SEAT-team

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Tom Coronel will join a new team in the World Touring Car Championship 2008. The team called Sun Red and is run by former SEAT Engineer Alex Orus. The team will run one petrol powered SEAT Léon for Coronel.
“My goal is to get three podiums. Winning races will be difficult but I want to be qualifying from 5th-10th this year, while I was 10th-15th last year,” said Coronel.

“I have always had my best results on street circuits and when it was raining, and I think the car is capable of being on the podium a few more times,” said Coronel to Autosport.

The fact that the team has chosen the petrol version of the Léon despite all SEAT factory cars will be diesel’s is not something Coronel is worried over.

“The diesel was unbelievable at the end of last season, but now the petrol has had a step up. The goal of the WTCC is to have everyone as competitive as possible. Everyone should be equal and that will help,” said Coronel.

“The other big help will be that for the first time I will be able to do all the testing. In all my time in this championship I have never had any. I have just had to turn up on Saturday and drive. Now after Mexico we will be able to test and that will make a big difference.”

Coronel leaves the GR-Asia team that he has driven for over the past three seasons successfully.

“They have been like a family to me and a big help. Unfortunately we have not been able to fight with the factory cars because there has never been enough budget to test.”