Waterworth Opens the SEAT Cupra Floodgates
16 January 2006
Neil Waterworth is the first driver to officially sign up to compete
in the 2006 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship, after committing to the
series at the Autosport International Show.
The 29-year old company director from Rochdale won the Fiesta XR2 Championship
in 2001 and for the last three years has been racing in the Clio Cup.
For 2006, his 250PS turbo-charged SEAT Leon Cupra R will be run by Total
Control Racing (TCR), the highly-experienced racing team from Wednesbury
in the West Midlands, and will appearin a striking black and orange
livery with backing from Swift Electrical Supplies, Sensernet Homes,
Awesome GTI and Paul Smith Media.
Neil has already taken delivery of his new car and will test the Leon
for the first time at Donington Park on January 26th.
Neil said: “I’m really looking forward to racing in the
SEAT Cupra Championship, because from a sporting point of view it’s
a step up from the Clio Cup. The prize money is very attractive too
– you get £10,000 for finishing fifth in the SEAT Cupra
Championship, which is the same as the top prize for winning the Clio
title! I’ll be aiming to finish on the podium as much as possible
in 2006 and I think that we have a good chance of scoring some very
good results. Rob Huff was the first person to sign for the SEAT Cupra
Championship in 2003 and he went on to win the title that and he’s
now racing in the World Touring Car Championship, so I hope that’s
a good omen.”
In the last three years, 51 drivers have raced in the SEAT Cupra Championship
and a prize fund worth over £1.2M has been awarded. Neil’s
announcement maintains SEAT Sport UK’s 100 percent record of signing
a driver on the opening day of registration. Early indications suggest
that 2006 could see a bumper field of Leon Cupra Rs competing in the
SEAT Cupra Championship this year. The first of 18 races takes place
at Brands Hatch on April 9th .
See series calendar for SEAT
Cupra Championship 2006
Related Story 12.01.2006 - Blaupunkt
Sponsors the 2006 SEAT Cupra Championship
