Three-time winner Andy Priaulx is predicting a tight scrap for the World Touring Car Championship this season.

The BMW driver bids to wrest back his crown from SEAT's Yvan Muller.

Priaulx, who won the title for three years in a row before the emergence of SEAT as the sport's dominant force in 2008 brought an end to his glittering reign.

SEAT's diesel-powered Leons swept all before them in the early rounds of last season and it took a while for the sport's rule-makers to reel in their advantage with a raft of performance-limiting measures.

The regulations are set to play into the hands of the petrol-powered BMWs this season, and Guernseyman Priaulx is expecting a more level playing field at this weekend's season-opener at the Curitiba circuit in Brazil.

"The writing was on the wall last year when the SEATs won the first race with little development," said Priaulx. "It was a tough season for everyone at BMW.

"The championship had to be made more equal. BMW were fast for four years and there is always a year of uncertainty while the authorities try to equalise performance.

"This year will see a more equal fight for the championship."

BMW's challenge is not limited to the efforts of Team UK's Priaulx, with the German manufacturer again fielding Jorg Muller and Augusto Farfus in a strong Team Germany squad, while veteran Alex Zanardi has a new team-mate at Team Italy-Spain in 25-year-old Spaniard Sergio Hernandez, last year's Independents Trophy winner.

SEAT, who also bagged the manufacturer's title last year, boast an unchanged five-driver factory line-up, with Frenchman Muller again spearheading the Spanish marque's attack.

"My hopes for new season is to do my best again, just like last year," said Muller, referring to his victory in last year's opening race at Curitiba.

"The keys to repeating our success will be consistency and good teamwork. It would be fantastic to start again with a victory in Brazil."

Muller's team-mate Gabriele Tarquini, who finished as runner-up in the title race last year, added: "I would be very satisfied if I can repeat the great season I had last year, although it's clear that this is going to be tough because our rivals are a lot stronger now."

Muller and Tarquini are again joined by Jordi Gene, Tiago Monteiro and Rickard Rydell in an ominously strong SEAT line-up.

Driver continuity is also central to the plans of the Chevrolet team, who again field Nicola Larini, Alain Menu and Britain's Robert Huff, who finished third in last year's championship.

The trio will be driving the brand-new Cruze saloon, which replaces the race-winning Lacetti for the fifth year of the manufacturer's involvement in WTCC.

With so many drivers competing in what is sure to be closely-matched machinery, Priaulx admits the title contenders for 2009 runs into double figures.

"You see close racing in the Touring Cars," he added. "If you want to see fighting at the front, WTCC gives you that.

"Any one of 10 drivers can win the title this year."