Will Oulton Park Point to Who Might Be SEAT Cupra Champion?

01 May 2006

Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2006 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship take place at Oulton Park on the 14 May, and in a bizarre twist of fate, each of the three former Champions - Rob Huff, James Pickford and Tom Boardman - have clinched a race win at the Cheshire circuit on their way to their titles. So whether it's coincidence or fate, the pressure will be on when the field takes to the track in two weeks' time.

The 2006 points table is headed by 2005 runner-up Mat Jackson (Whale Tankers/Jackson Motorsport), courtesy of a pair of race wins at the opening round at Brands Hatch. He is understandably positive as he looks forward to heading north to Oulton Park. "It's a circuit I know quite well," explains the 24-year old from Henley-in-Arden. "It's a very technical circuit, a real driver's circuit. There are lots of high speed corners but not a lot of run-off, so if you make a mistake, it can be costly. That can put some people off but conversely, it can be an advantage if you like that sort of circuit."

"I had a good weekend at Oulton last year. I was on pole for both races and won the second. I made a silly mistake in the first which cost me a possible win there but it happens. I think race winners at Oulton go on to become champions because it's a circuit where generally quick drivers will be at the front. If you're quick at Oulton, then you're quick pretty much everywhere and that's what you need to become champion."

Second in the standings is Cupra newcomer, Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) from Colchester. An excellent performance at the opening round netted the 20-year old former Clio racer a podium and fourth place which, combined with a fastest lap, means he trails Jackson by just 10 points. "If someone had offered me second in the championship after the first round, I would have jumped at the chance," he said. "Everything went right for us at Brands and I feel I showed that I have the pace to be able to succeed. If I stay focused, then there is no reason why I can't show the same pace at Oulton.

"I have some experience of Oulton but not as much as other circuits. I won my first race there though, so I'm hoping I can repeat that performance. I‘ve got a good coach who will walk the circuit with me and if I listen to the team and take their advice, then I should be OK. It's not going to be easy though, because the competition is so close in the Cupras. I feel it's the most competitive one-make championship in the UK at the moment."

Third in the series table is Ruislip-based Matt Johnson (Johnson's Motorsport), returning to the UK after a period in the Spanish SEAT Supercopa championship, where he finished second in 2004. "It's been quite a busy time for us since the first round. On the last lap at Brands, we noticed a whining noise from the front of the car and subsequently replaced a bearing in the gearbox. However, that didn't resolve the issue, so the whole gearbox is being rebuilt before Oulton Park. We're also going to make some set-up changes to the car, bringing it closer to those we used in Spain. We were quite conservative at Brands and this led to a lot of understeer in the second half of each race. Now, we're going to make the car oversteer more, which is how I prefer it."

"I love Oulton Park and I've been going there for years. It's fast, bumpy and rough in places and it's a circuit you can really get your teeth into. I'm looking forward to it and hope we'll be a bit further up the order with the new settings. The aim is to peg Mat [Jackson] back a bit but I reckon there are 10 or 12 guys in the series that are capable of winning, so it will be a close thing."

Series veterans Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Edenbridge Racing) from Norfolk and Surrey lad Tom Ferrier (Alsigns, Darwin/Edenbridge Racing) were uncharacteristically off the pace at the first round but feel that they have made progress understanding why and both are positive they will be back to their normal pace at Oulton. "I'm going to Oulton looking for a pair of wins, it's that simple," said Ferrier. "I've got a fair bit of experience at Oulton – I won a few Caterham R400 races there – so if we have resolved the pace issue from Brands, hopefully we should be back near the front. I would expect me, Carl [Breeze], Mat [Jackson], Jonathan Fildes and Jonathan Adam to be up there, fighting it out."

The action on the Cheshire circuit is sure to be frantic, as in addition to the SEAT veterans, a brace of newcomers to the Cupra Championship will be determined to make their mark. Ben Winrow (CMS Motorsport) from Earls Barton, returning to the Cupras from a year in Clios, took a well-deserved second place in the opening round at Brands, while Irishman Jonathan Fildes (Asgard Taverns/Total Control Racing) also took a runner-up spot, starting from pole, in round two. The reigning Clio champion, Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) from Kirkaldy also put in an excellent performance, qualifying third and second respectively. However, he was denied the accompanying results by contact in both races, so he'll be keen to get his season kick-started, as Ferrier predicts.

The action begins with qualifying for each of the two races at 10.20 and 14.30 on Saturday 13 May. The races take place at 12.50 and 15.35 on Sunday 14 May and both can be seen live on Motors TV (Sky 413, ntl 173).

See series calendar for SEAT Cupra Championship 2006

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