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SEAT pulls out of WTCC but will continue to support privateers |
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Written by zboyd
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Wednesday, 13 January 2010 |
| WORLD CHAMPIONS SEAT CALL TIME ON WTCC. SEAT have confirmed that they are pulling out of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. However the Spanish marque have said they intend to carry on supporting privateer teams. |
SEAT Sport will not take part in the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship; however the Spanish car manufacturer announced today that SEAT Sport will give maximum support to the drivers who will be competing in the Leon TDI and the fuel-powered Leon FSI cars.
Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport Director explained: “After achieving all possible successes in the WTCC, we are now going to focus all our efforts on customer sports in different championships, such as the WTCC. We are always eager to win when a SEAT is on the track and to do so, SEAT Sport will provide all of our customers with the necessary technical support.”
Dominik Hoberg, SEAT Communications Director, added: “SEAT will continue with a noteworthy presence in motor sports in 2010, with a team of highly qualified professionals of which we are particularly proud of, but the company will have a different approach as regards to its motor sports activity. The presence of our cars in different championships and countries will continue to be a major value to strengthen our brand image.”
Its been reported that SEAT intend to support two privateer teams in the WTCC 2010. SUNRED Engineering are rumoured to be one such outfit, which already has got close ties to SEAT Sport, and another, yet to be revealed, team based in Italy. Michel Nykjær the reigning Danish touring car champion, announced yesterday his intention to contest the 2010 WTCC with a drive in a SEAT Leon run by SUNRED. "I have tested the SEAT Léon TDi and it is an amazing car," said Nykjær.
SUNRED Engineering won the independents championship in 2009 with Tom Coronel and Nykjær has full trust in the team.
"SUNRED and SEAT Sport have got close relations and I have full trust that they can help me to be in the very top," said Nykjær.
SEAT entered WTCC in 2003 (when it was named ETCC) and has since then notched up a large number of wins, first one in 2004, plus two drivers titles and manufacturers titles. |
