Eyes Ahead for Jackson as SEAT Cupras Return
to Action at Croft
06 July 2006
Following a six-week break, the 2006 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship
returns to action on the 15 and 16 July at the Croft circuit, near Darlington
in North Yorkshire. By the time the drivers and teams reach the former
RallyCross track, they will have already completed 1/3 of the season
and the remaining rounds will be far more compact, as title aspirations
and challenges begin to play out.
Championship leader Mat Jackson (Whale Tankers/Jackson Motorsport)
from Henley-in-Arden has had a dominant season so far, winning four
of the six races to head the table by eight points prior to Croft. However,
he feels it is too early to be looking over his shoulder at his championship
rivals, preferring to concentrate on getting the best result he can.
“I’m obviously pleased to be leading the championship at
this point,” he said. “Overall, we’ve had a great
season so far, with four wins while no other driver has had more than
one. We’ll be heading for Croft looking for more wins of course
but it won’t be easy, as people like Alan [Blencowe], Jonathan
[Adam] and Fulvio [Mussi] are quick. Croft has always been a good circuit
for me; I had a win and a third there last year, as well as second in
the touring cars and a win in the Clio, so I’m looking forward
to it. It’s an interesting circuit, with fast, committed sections
as well as slower, more technical parts, so car set-up is crucial. We
made some changes to the car at Thruxton for the second race and realized
that they definitely didn’t work, so that won’t happen again.”
Second in the championship and closing the gap to Jackson by a point
at Thruxton is Trowbridge-based Alan Blencowe (Triple R), who hasn’t
finished outside the top six so far this season and was on the podium
at each of the two preceding race weekends. “I was happy with
the result from Thruxton and am pleased to be second in thechampionship
without a win yet. The team gave me a very well sorted car and I feel
that going from seventh to third in the first race and eleventh to fourth
in the second was a good result. What I need to do now is make sure
I put in a good qualifying performance, to make my job in the race easier.
I’ll be going to Croft with the aim of coming home leading the
championship and to do that, I need to finish in front of Mat [Jackson]
and Jonathan [Adam]. It’s a tall ask, as Mat will be hard to catch
and Jonathan will also make the job difficult but I’m aiming high.”
Reigning Clio champion Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) from Kirkcaldy
is one of the two drivers apart from Jackson to have won a race; two
on the road in fact, before a penalty denied him the win in the first
race at Thruxton. “Of course being third at this point in the
championship is very good,” he said. “I had a bad weekend
at Brands Hatch but have been on the podium for every race since. So
I’m closing the gap to Mat and gaining confidence in the SEAT
all the time. My goal for the season is to be as consistent as possible,
finish every race and take away as many points as I can. Last year in
the Clios, I had 17 podium finishes and that is what it’s about.
I like Croft as a circuit and the TCR team had an impressive 1-2-3-4
with the Clios last year, so I’m feeling good ahead of the race.
I’m also looking forward to getting back it the car again, as
I’m really enjoying this series – the car is fantastic and
SEAT runs the championship very professionally.”
Trailing Adam by 12 points is Earls Barton-based Ben Winrow (Winged
Aviation/CMS), another driver who is keen to go racing again. Winrow
has suffered mixed fortunes so far this season, having stood on the
podium once each weekend yet also had another result which didn’t
quite match. “It’s true to say we’ve had mixed luck
this year,” he explained, “both good and bad. I now need
to get more consistency in my results and make sure I finish as well
as possible. A win would also be nice, since some people feel it’s
overdue. I’m definitely looking forward to Croft, as it’sa
very challenging and technical circuit and as a driver, very rewarding.
I expect there will be lots of action, as we’ve already seen,
as the series is so close. I feel it really is the best route to becoming
a touring car driver; SEAT has demonstrated its commitment to motorsport
and with this series and its British and World Touring Car programmes,
there’s a very clear path. I’ve definitely got my sights
set on the touring car test at the end of the year!”
Another driver targeting the championship-winner’s test is Fulvio
Mussi (Total Control Racing) from Colchester, whoalso experienced a
mixed weekend at Thruxton, retiring from the first race with damage
but winning the second convincingly. “I was delighted to get my
first win at Thruxton. I always wanted it to be on my own merit, not
because someone else had problems. To qualify on the front row, overtake
the championship leader and win from the lights couldn’t have
been any better for me. It shows that I have the pace to be at the front
consistently now, which is important. I want the touring car test at
the end of the season because I’m hoping that the way I adapt
to cars and circuits means that I would be able to show good pace straight
away.”
Dubliner Jonathan Fildes (Asgard Taverns/Total Control Racing) had
a frustrating weekend at Thruxton, arriving second in the title standings
and leaving sixth. He was suffering a particularly bad bout of flu and
admits that he was even lucky to be allowed to race. “I was feeling
drained and dizzy and everything I ate came straight back up. So in
light of that, to come away with some points was quite good. But Croft
should be better. I’ve traditionally gone well there but at the
moment, qualifying is my weak point. Having said that, there are plenty
of passing opportunities at Croft and the TCR team always produces a
car that is capable of making up ground. I just need to pull my finger
out and get on with the job because if I don’t start taking points,
it could seriously harm my championship. There are too many quick drivers
out there to let any of them get too far ahead.”
The seventh and eighth rounds of the season take place on Sunday 16
July at 12.40 and 17.25 respectively. Both races can be seen live on
Motors TV (Sky 413, ntl 173).
See series calendar for SEAT
Cupra Championship 2006
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