Luke Hines completes SEAT Sport UK BTCC Three
Driver Line-up
14
January 2005
British Touring Car Championship race winner Luke Hines
will join Jason Plato and James Pickford at SEAT Sport UK this year,
driving
a Toledo Cupra in the 2005 BTCC.
The 22-year old from Hoddesdon in
Hertfordshire first competed in the BTCC in 2003, becoming Production
Class Champion courtesy of six class wins, eight poles and nine fastest
laps. Luke raced in the premier category in 2004, and driving
for the VX Racing team he won rounds at Brands Hatch and Snetterton. Having
shown great potential in just two years of saloon car racing, the former
kart champion (like Plato, Hines is a graduate of the Zip Young Guns
academy) has signed a one-year contract with SEAT Sport UK to race
in the 2005 BTCC. It completes SEAT Sport UK’s three BTCC
driver line-up, allowing it to challenge for the Manufacturers' title,
as well as the Drivers’ and the Teams’ award.
Luke Hines
said: "I'm delighted to be driving for SEAT Sport UK this
year because in my mind it's definitely the best team in the
BTCC. We all saw what it achieved in its first year in 2004,
so just think what it could achieve in 2005. It's a very
exciting prospect for me and there is a lot of potential in the team
which I believe will come to the fore this year. I want to try and
help SEAT win the Manufacturers' title, that’s my main
aim. I haven't driven the Toledo Cupra yet and I have a
lot to learn, but I'm looking forward to working with Jason and
James and hopefully score loads more race wins myself. I'd
like to win the drivers' title, but I'd be very happy if,
at the end of the season, I finished in the top three."
Scott
Dennis, SEAT UK National Motorsport Manager, said: "It's
fantastic to have someone with Luke’s potential join the SEAT
Sport UK team. In 2004 Luke proved he can compete with the best,
winning two races and consistently finished in the points, and together
with Jason and James we have a very strong driver line-up that will
enable us to challenge for the Manufacturers’ title."
See series
calendar for SEAT
Cupra Championship 2005
Related Story 06.12.2004 - SEAT
Cupra Champions Compete at the Highest Level