Tin Tops to serve up a treat in Dubai

The FIA European Touring Car Championships (ETCC), the mainstay of motorsport across the globe, runs its final two-race round at the Dubai Autodrome during the LG Super Racing Weekend.

Touring cars popularly known as 'tin tops' could easily get top billing when they take to the track on October 6-8. For race fans its an opportunity to watch finely tuned saloon cars, similar to those available in car showrooms across the country, in close battle.

The ETCC show arrives in the UAE with the manufacturer's title already clinched by BMW and the driver's championship virtually decided, also destined to end up with a driver racing for the Bavarian constructor.

Series leader, German ace Dirk Muller needs nine points from the two Dubai rounds to clinch the title for his BMW Team Deutschland. Last year he lost the championship by a mere point and will be mindful of this when the lights go green.

The most serious threat to Muller's title aspirations will come from Briton Andy Priaulx in the lone BMW Team Great Britain car.

Dirk's team mate Jorg Muller, no relation, has a slim chance to snatch the title but will need to win both races and hope that Dirk does not score points in either heat.

Priaulx was a hot contender for the title until the last heat at Oschersleben where he failed to finish.

Expect fireworks from the Team Great Britain as they pull out all the stops to take the title home despite what punters would call a slim chance. But by no means is the FIA ETCC a BMW exclusive story.

Alfa Romeo is the second of three major manufacturers involved with a big investment in technology and driver power in the series.

Alfa Romeo started the season as firm favourites to snatch the FIA ETCC manufacturer championship from BMW with their four factory assisted Alfa 156s run by the AutoDelta Squadra Corse.

The team has a formidable driving force comprising Italian Gabriele Traquini, the 2003 ETCC champion, fellow countryman and touring car veteran Fabrizio Giovanardi, young charger Augusto Farfus Junior from Brazil and former British Touring Car Champion James Thompson.

Between them they have taken the chequered flag no fewer than six times this season.

Pride is at stake in the final round on the brand new Dubai circuit guaranteeing a scorching contest as the Italian team go all out for a win.

The third major manufacturer gunning for a win in Dubai is the dark horse SEAT Sport with their three Toledo Cupra entries fresh from victory in the second race at Oschersleben two weeks ago.

The team will be looking to use the Oschersleben result as inspiration to challenge the BMWs and Alfas on unchartered territory.

Former F1 driver Alessandro Zanardi, who lost his legs in a horrific Champcar race at the German 500 in 2001, races a specially adapted BMW 320i for BMW Team Italy-Spain.