Reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini, plus Tiago Monteiro, Jordi Gene and dutch privateer Tom Coronel all return to the WTCC with semi-works Leon turbo diesels. The newly established SR-Sport, a division of SUNRED Engineering Development, will field a very strong four-car team in the 2010 FIA WTCC.

Thanks to their strong ties with SEAT Sport, the Spanish outfit managed to put together a quartet of SEAT Leon TDI machines that will be entrusted to the capable hands of former SEAT Sport drivers: the reigning World Champion Gabriele Tarquini, the 2009 Independents’ Trophy winner Tom Coronel, Tiago Monteiro and Jordi Gené.

Team principal Joán Orus said: “I am really enthusiastic to race the SEAT TDI cars, because I think we will be able to fight for the WTCC title with the new team SR-Sport and four great drivers. We will also run Michel Nykjær’s cars under the SUNRED banner and altogether this is a great opportunity to show our potential and future possibilities. I want to say thank you to SEAT Sport’s customer department for their support and to all the drivers for placing confidence in our team.”

“I am really pleased that I was given the opportunity to stay in the championship. I had received offers for other series, but my ambition was to defend the title. This is the first time in my career that I can sport the number one of the world champion and I did not want to miss it,” Tarquini commented and then added: “The SUNRED people are competent, motivated and ready to make a step forward. The León TDI was the winning car last year and I think it can be still competitive. Obviously we won’t have the same technical and financial means we had with SEAT Sport, but in spite of this I believe we have the potential to win some rounds and, with a bit of luck, to fight for the title again.”

Tiago Monteiro said: “I am very excited to be part of this new adventure and specially to keep on going for a 4th year with SEAT and WTCC !

Its really a great family and an amazing championship for a professional driver to be in. Again it won’t be an easy one, but i am 120% ready to fight from the beguinning and I am sure that the newly formed SR Sport team will give me a great car to fight for victories !”

The World Touring Car Championship will start in Curitiba (Brazil) on March 6th.