WTCC: Exclusive interview with SEAT Sport boss

[Plex]

The retirement of SEAT as an official works team from the WTCC sent shockwaves through the touring car world. TouringCarTimes contacted SEAT Sport boss Jaime Puig for an interview on the subject.

"We've left WTCC because SEAT is changing their global strategy," said Jaime Puig to TouringCarTimes.com.

The future plans for SEAT in WTCC and SEAT Sport has been a hot subject for speculation. "SEAT Sport will not be closed down, we are only reducing our staff from around 58%.

From these people, we have offered to 70% of out employees a new job within SEAT. Some of them take it and some prefer to search new jobs," said Puig.

Whether SEAT is destined to return to the WTCC in 2011 or in the near future is not decided yet. "It's too early to say something about 2011. We decided only a few days ago our plans for this year, so we still need some time to take a decision for next year," said Puig.

The whereabouts for reigning champion and SEAT man Gabriele Tarquini is another hot subject. "Gabriele Tarquini does not have a contract with us for 2010, but we want to support him on the technical side.

Tarquini is working to find a budget for a whole WTCC season 2010, but I cannot say at the moment if he is going to continue. We can offer technical support for him but he has to finance his season on his own," said Puig.

The only driver likely to remain as a SEAT driver is Spaniard Jordi Gené. "Gene has the possibility to stay at SEAT as a representative and test driver. He wants to continue in the WTCC but it is uncertain if he is going to find enough private sponsors," said Puig.

The ambition for SEAT is to get as many diesel SEAT Léon's as possible to privateers. "At the moment I am expecting three diesel powered cars but it is still possible to see more cars. I know that some teams like SUNRED, Zengo Motorsport with Norbert Michelisz and Exagon are interested.

All of these teams already have got a lot of experience of running SEAT cars. We still have our works cars, plus the three test cars in our workshop! All teams that wants to run one of our cars are going to get the best support possible," said Puig.

With SEAT gone from the WTCC scene and possibly Lada as well, BMW and Chevrolet are going to be alone in the WTCC 2010. "It will be a tough season, this season will be much more difficult compared to last year. With five confirmed works cars, I expect to see a lot of privateer teams.

All privateer teams are going to have a good chance to score a lot of championship points. They have the chance to win races. With the SEAT Léon TDI, interested teams have the chance to buy a winner's car and I am sure that they can fight for the championship," said Puig.

The rule debate, involving the SEAT diesel engine among other things, has dominated the WTCC scene recently, something that has damaged the championship according to Puig. "The discussions about the rules were very much damaging. In the first half of the season, we had more discussion about the rules than racing," said Puig.

One of the effects of the rule debacle was that the Touring Car Bureau, that handled the dispensations, has been closed down. "It was the right decision for FIA to close the Bureau. The best team with the best driver has to win the championship and not the manufacturer with the best arguments. If a manufacturer has got a better car compared to the other manufacturer, the others have to work harder to close the gap. We need stable rules," said Puig.

When returning to the topic of the future of SEAT, speculations have been circulating that they are looking in to build the new 1.6 liter FIA "World Engine" that is going to be introduced next year. "We have got no development at SEAT Sport for the moment. A new engine require nine months of development, so we would have to start in march or april to develop the new engine if we decide to do it.

But the new engine rules are the future for motorsport and it was the best decision to introduce this engine concept. But for SEAT Sport it is too early to say if we are going to develop the new engine.

SEAT is a member of the Volkswagen group and we could share the costs with other brands in the group. But I do not know yet if the Volkswagen group wants to develop this type of engine," said Puig.

Touringcartimes