SEAT to Enter the 2004 British Touring Car Championship

21 November 2003

SEAT UK will enter two official works Toledo Cupra Rs in the 2004 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), driven by Jason Plato and Robert Huff.
 
To mark the brand’s first ever entry into the BTCC, SEAT Sport will build two new Toledo Cupra Rs at its headquarters in Martorell, near Barcelona. Thereafter, the cars will be run and maintained throughout 2004 in the UK, with additional technical support from SEAT Sport’s 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) team.
 
Jason Plato was British Touring Car Champion in 2001 and this announcement marks the 36-year old Monacoresident’s return to the series. Robert Huff won the 2003 Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship driving a Leon Cupra R, and the 23-year old Cambridgeshire driver is delighted that his prize of a works drive in the 2004 ETCC has been changed to a works drive in the BTCC.
 
Plato said: "I'm very excited about returning to the British Touring Car Championship and sparing with some old racing rivals again. I think it’s great that SEAT UK is doing the BTCC next year because the series is growing from strength to strength and it's good news for the BTCC that a new and dynamic manufacturer will be involved in one of the world’s premier saloon car championships."
 
Huff said: "It's much better for me to be doing the British Touring Car Championship rather than the European series because, with the exception of Mondello, I have already raced at all of the circuits. Jason has a lot of experience setting up and racing touring cars at the BTCC circuits, and that will also benefit me as we'll be working very closely together as team-mates. Racing in the BTCC next year is perfect for me."
 
Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager, said: "The prospect of racing in the BTCC next is very exciting and takes SEAT to a new level of motorsport in theUK. The fact that the SEAT Cupra Championship is also on the TOCA Tour will give us a fantastic level of exposure throughout the year."
 
Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, said: "I am delighted that SEAT UK has decided to add the BTCC to its dynamic marketing drive in this country and I know that it will prove to be a great competitor in this fantastic Championship."
 
SEAT UK will enter two Toledo Cupra Rs on all rounds of the 2004 British Touring Car Championship.

See 2004 series calendar for British Touring Car Championship

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