BTCC drive for 2008 SEAT Cupra Champion

[m0rk]

New Leon Cupras in 2008:

Only the New Leon Cupra cars, which raced so successfully for the first time in the UK in 2007, will be eligible to compete in next year's SEAT Cupra Championship. The size of the grids will be limited to 28 cars to ensure that every competitor races on race day, thus maximising the benefits of being part of the BTCC support package.

Full parts support and hospitality for driver guests and sponsors will be at each race meeting, and a dedicated team will continue to co-ordinate and manage the series, with the full manufacturer backing of SEAT UK.

Read more at SEATCupra.net...

 

[ZBOYD]

Sounds like a superb package for 2008. I would hope the BTCC drive will be a huge carrot for promoting a large and competive grid for next season. Should be another great season.

This PR also loosely confirms SEAT Sport UK will be a part of the BTCC at least until the end of 2009.

Nice one Scott and the team, looking forward to 2008

 

[m0rk]

Certainly reads that way... especially with JP signed for 3 more years it enforces their "hanging about" even more

which isn't a bad thing

 

[ZBOYD]

Certainly reads that way... especially with JP signed for 3 more years it enforces their "hanging about" even more

which isn't a bad thing

Indeed, at worst gives us something to do in the summer

 

[ZBOYD]

Just to re-cap this news.

The winner of the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship will win a Touring Car drive with SEAT Sport UK in a BTCC Leon, plus a brand new road-going SEAT Leon FR, worth £17,250.

Next year’s series will keep its title as the largest prize fund in UK motorsport with a value of £¼million. On top of the overall Championship prizes, SEAT will allocate £83,600 to a race-by-race pot. Each race winner will receive £600 and the top 18 finishers in each race will win money, going down to £75 for 18th position.

 

[spyke85]

So Turner won't be driving then? Or will SEAT run 3 cars?

 

[m0rk]

that's 2009.... maybe they'll run 3 cars.

 

[ZBOYD]

Only thing that confuses me is the wording. Is it a 'full' works drive. Or just a one off appearance in a 3rd car?

I've asked for some clarification from a man who will know.

 

[ZBOYD]

It will be a third car entry at one meeting, not a full season drive. Had it confirmed by the man that knows.

 

[IainW]

2nd prize isn't too shabby either. A new racecar for the next year, plus £7500 of credit at SEAT Sport UK.

I hope this prize attracts plenty of entries and that the new European series doesn't take too many people away. Given that a lot of the 44 Clio registrants from this year were quite unhappy with Renault and the way it was run, hopefully we'll see some of them go for the SCC instead, as it's prizes are much better than £10,000 and a test in a Renault Megane.

 

[ZBOYD]

I can see the pro's of the Euro series, European stage and all that especially for those who were at the sharp end of the grids this year. WTCC drive in 2009, but that's a bit vague, PR says it's the best classified all get a drive. Which makes me think the top 3 might all get a one off drive in a WTCC race weekend rather than a full works drive?

However con's must be the cost implications and logistics with running a short Euro campaign compared to a longer UK campaign. Learning unfamiliar circuits and setups, difficult to obtain sponsors too I would of thought who may prefer more localised coverage in front of UK crowds. The lack of a home crowd support, except for Brands Hatch of course.

As you say, Clio's seemed to lose it's way this year in a big way. It started with a lot of promise with the large grids, but it was often marred by incidents and some poor driving standards. As the season progressed I found my interest in the Clio's waned.

Hopefully some of the Clio front runners will head to SEAT's in 08