Motorsport fans say Yvan Muller will fail this year to retain his Green Flag British Touring Car Championship title.
It is his VX Racing teammate James Thompson who gets the vote as most likely to take the Frenchman's crown, according to an online poll from series sponsors Green Flag Motoring Assistance.
More than a third (37 per cent) of people who took part in a poll at greenflagbtcc.com said the Yorkshire driver would win this year's championship. Following Thompson was SEAT's Jason Plato in second place with 21 per cent while current champion Muller was in third place with just 17 per cent of the vote.
Commenting on the results, James Thompson said: "Its very flattering that people have voted me most likely to win the championship this year, but it is still early days, and although as a team we are doing well, there are too many good drivers on the grid this year to be complacent. Who knows, as long as I can stay clear of Anthony Reid, or he stays clear of me, I might have a chance!"
Green Flag sponsorship manager, Nick Page added: "Given that Yvan is currently in great form, it's surprising that fans don't think he will come through at the end of the season. We certainly expect such a talented driver to be up there with Thompson come the final stages of the season."
The fan website at www.greenflagbtcc.com was launched in May by Green Flag as an important element of their sponsorship of the series. The site provides race information, exclusive features, driver interviews, news and competitions and the chance to receive email updates.
The championship is proving to be as competitive as predicted at the start of the season with Muller and Thompson currently sharing top spot in the drivers' championship as they go into the Irish rounds of the Green Flag BTCC at Mondello Park this Sunday (June 13).
Muller goes to Ireland in good form after taking two victories in three races last time out at Cheshire's Oulton Park. Thompson will be looking to repeat his success last year at Mondello Park when he won both races in the season's opening race weekend.
The SEAT Sport team will have its work cut out to make in-roads on the leading pack as neither Plato nor teammate Huff has extensive knowledge of the Irish circuit.
