This is the fifth consecutive visit of the FIA Touring Cars to the Spanish stadium-like racetrack.

Alfa Romeo dominated the 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship meeting, with Fabrizio Giovanardi and Gabriele Tarquini who took one victory apiece.

The following year, in the FIA WTCC inaugural season, local hero Jordi Gené started from pole position to give the new SEAT León its first win, while Jörg Müller won Race 2 for BMW.

In 2006 Alfa Romeo won again with Augusto Farfus in the first race and Jörg Müller encored in the second one.

Last year's event was the Italian manufacturer's swan song as James Thompson claimed a double victory after two breathtaking races.

The Briton will make his first appearance in the 2008 WTCC at the wheel of the brand new Honda Accord Euro R built by N.technology and JAS Motorsport.

The Valencian event will mark the beginning of WTCC's European season after the first two race meetings held in Brazil and Mexico.

Therefore activities on the track will start on Friday, May 16th, with a 30-minute test session at 3.00pm that will give the teams the opportunity to shake their cars down after they were shipped from Mexico.