History

Before the FIA ETCC, and subsequently WTCC, were set up, there was only one Touring Car Championship in the history of motor sport. The title was won in 1987 by the Italian Roberto Ravaglia in a BMW M3. In 2005, the WTCC was set up by the FIA as the successor to the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), which had been held from 2001 to 2004. While ETCC races were only held in Europe, the FIA WTCC races are also a fixed feature on the racing calendar in South America and Asia.

The start of the 2007 season was clearly dominated by BMW, with drivers Andy Priaulx, Jörg Müller and Augusto Farfus taking it in turns to lead the Drivers Championship. By mid season, the more slim-line Chevrolet Lacettis were able to take advantage of the new, narrow city circuits in Pau (France) and Porto (Portugal). This helped Chevrolet driver Alain Menu to 5 victories - and 5 appearances on the winners' podium. At the 12th race in Anderstorp (Sweden), diesel cars were put through their paces, with the two Seat drivers, Yvan Muller and Jordi Gené, lining up on the grid in a 2 litre turbodiesel. However, they neither won in the qualifying sessions nor in the actual race, making Yvan Muller's victory in Oschersleben (Germany) all the more sensational. This was the first time ever that a diesel-powered vehicle had won a FIA World Championship.

The final in Macao was dramatic: Andy Priaulx (BMW) and Yvan Muller (Seat) had both taken first place in the Drivers Championship. Yvan Muller started in position 2 on the grid in the first race, but took the lead right at the start and held on to it throughout. His main rival, Andy Priaulx, started only in ninth place and was therefore not eligible for any points - until the second to last lap when Muller dropped out due to a loose fuel pump. That meant no points for him and no second race. Meanwhile, Priaulx gained 8th place in the first race and thus a World Championship point and pole position for the second race. With a narrow win in race 2 (only 0.8 seconds ahead of the Italian Chevrolet driver, Nicola Larini) he won his third WTCC Championship in succession.