Turner Eyes Points Prize for SEAT on BTCC
Debut
25
May 2006
Former McLaren Formula 1 test driver Darren Turner will make his Dunlop
MSA British Touring Car Championship race debut at Thruxton on Sunday
4th June, driving a SEAT Leon. SEAT Sport UK's super-sub will replace
James Thompson (who is driving for SEAT Sport in the FIA World Touring
Car race the same day at Oschersleben in Germany) and team-up with the
only man on the BTCC grid that he has ever raced against before, Jason
Plato.
The ultra-fast Thruxton circuit in Hampshire is Darren's favourite
UK track, although he hasn't raced there since a Formula Palmer
Audi event in 1998. Since then, Darren has spent most of his time racing
overseas – driving Aston Martins and Ferraris at Le Mans and for
Mercedes in the DTM. In recent weeks he's raced a DBR9 in the
American Le Mans Series in Mid-Ohio and Houston.
All of Darren's past racing exploits have been in rear-wheel
drive cars, so Thruxton will also be Darren's first race in a
front-wheel drive car. The 32-year old from Banbury quickly got to grips
with the SEAT Leon when he tested it before the start of the season,
but race weekend will be the first time he has driven his racing SEAT
for 12 weeks.
Despite only two 40 minute free practice sessions to get dialled into
the car before qualifying, Darren is confident he can fulfil the team's
desire and score valuable points for SEAT. Extending the brand's
lead in the BTCC Manufacturers' standings is Jason's main
aim too, but as he's also third in the Drivers' table he'll
want to maintain his challenge for a second title by winning at Thruxton.
Theoretically, the slower maximum speed of the Leon, caused by the
drag effect of its rear hatch-back shape, will disadvantage the team
at Britain's fastest touring car circuit. In the slower and more
twisty sections, the Leon's superb chassis will be an advantage.
As the car has never been to Thruxton before, the team won't know
how competitive the Leon is over a complete lap until after qualifying.
With the first third of the BTCC season about to be completed, race
strategy and car set-up will play an important role at this crucial
point in the season.
Darren said: "Thruxton is my favourite circuit in Britain, so
I'm quite happy that it's where I'll be making my
BTCC race debut. It's a big commitment circuit. If you've
got the right car underneath you, you can really commit to the ultra-fast
corners and to nail a good lap around Thruxton is a very good feeling.
It's just great to race cars flat-out and be on the edge!
"In my mind I'm thinking a win would be very nice, but
being realistic the first thing I've got to do is establish myself
on the track and get back into the grove in those two forty minute free
practice sessions. That's all I've got before my first qualifying
session on Saturday afternoon. If I can be in the top six after qualifying
then I'll be happy with that. Anything higher would be fantastic!
Come race day, I just want to have three solid races. If one of them
ends up on the podium, then that would be a great weekend for me, but
if I can just collect a good amount of points for SEAT I'll be
pleased. Having seen a few BTCC races now, I think it will be hard to
keep out of trouble because you can get caught up in somebody else's
drama, but if I don't make any mistakes, have three solid races,
bring home some manufacturer points for SEAT and build a good platform
for myself for my next race meeting at Donington Park, then I'll
be very happy with my first BTCC race weekend."
Jason said: "It's difficult to predict how we'll
get on at Thruxton. On the slower technical parts of the circuit –
through the Campbell-Cobb-Segrave complex and at the Chicane –
our Leon will be phenomenal, but on the flat-out sections around the
back of the circuit, between Goodwood and Church Corners and on the
run down to the Chicane, we'll suffer because we're down
on top end speed. As we've never driven the Leon around Thruxton
before, there is no way of knowing how competitive we'll be over
a complete lap until we get there and do one!
"I think Darren will go very well at Thruxton. It's one
of those mega-fast circuits where you need big balls and just go for
it, and having raced at Le Mans and driven F1 cars it's reasonable
to presume that Darren's more than equipped to do the job! You
have to really attack Thruxton and the problem Darren has is that he
only has two forty minute free practice sessions to get used to the
car before the all-important qualifying session begins. Making your
touring car debut at Thruxton will be a real eye-opener, but I still
believe Darren will do really well."
The BTCC race weekend at Thruxton begins with two 40 minute free practice
sessions on Saturday 3rd June,starting at 09.30 and 12.00, followed
by a 30 minute qualifying session starting at 15.10. Rounds 10, 11 and
12 of the BTCC take place on Sunday 4th June, with the three 16 lap
races starting at 11.00, 13.15 and 16.50.
Motors TV (Sky 413, ntl 173) will be broadcasting live throughout race
day, while ITV1 will show recorded highlights of the first two races
and the third race live on Sunday afternoon.
SEAT
See series calendar for British
Touring Car Championship 2006
Related Story 14.05.2006 - Plato
Praises Dynamite SEAT Sport UK BTCC Team
