Gabriele Tarquini has no intention of giving up his slender lead in the World Touring Car Championship.

This was after finally hitting the front for the first time this season.

Tarquini heads into rounds 19 and 20 around Imola on Sunday with a one-point cushion over BMW's Augusto Farfus Jnr, with SEAT team-mate Yvan Muller seven points adrift.

Prior to the previous four rounds at the last two venues of Brands Hatch and Oschersleben, reigning world champion Muller appeared to be romping towards back-to-back titles.

But following a dramatic collapse, with the Frenchman taking just four points from those races, the 40-year-old now finds himself playing catch-up.

Italian Tarquini, who finished second to Muller last season, will be hoping for a repeat of his performance around Imola a year ago when he finished second in race one before winning the second.

"There are only three races left until the end of the season, and I have no intention of letting my rivals close the gap," insisted the 47-year-old.

Tarquini, whose only title was back in 1994 when he won the British Touring Car Championship, knows he cannot rely on any help just yet from Muller.

Tarquini added: "I don't think Yvan is obliged to help me. However, should the gap between us increase after Imola, his help might prove crucial."

Farfus Jnr is the man in form, though, after winning three of the last five rounds.

However, the Brazilian heads to a track certain to favour the SEATs given Imola's long straights which make it the second fastest on the calendar.

"Of all the tracks on which we will race in the remaining events, Imola is the most difficult one for us," said Farfus Jnr, who will be sporting '15th Ayrton Senna Anniversary' messages on his helmet and car in memory of the legend's death at Imola in 1994.

"I just have to score as many points as possible in order to be well prepared for the season finale in Okayama and Macau."

Three-time champion Andy Priaulx has still not given up on his chances of adding a fourth crown, even though he trails Tarquini by 25 points.

"This is a track where getting a tow is important for a good lap time," said Priaulx, heading into the weekend with confidence after winning one of the races in Oschersleben.

"This is not the perfect place for our BMW as there are too many kerbs for us, and so it is not possible to get on the power.

"Having said that, I am determined to follow on where I left off in Oschersleben."