Three Car SEAT Team Aims to Win BTCC in Style

18 September 2006

Jason Plato, James Thompson and Darren Turner will all race at the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship finale at Silverstone on Sunday 15th October, as SEAT Sport UK runs all three of its drivers for the only time this year - aiming to win its first Manufacturers' title in style.

Having scored 11 wins and 24 podium finishes in 27 races this year, SEAT heads to Silverstone with a 65 point lead over its nearest rival in the Manufacturers' table. With 81 points still available, the prestigious title is by no means assured, and tactics will play a vital part as, for the first time this season, SEAT will have to nominate after qualifying on Saturday (14th October) the two drivers who will score Manufacturer points on Sunday's big race day.

SEAT Sport UK's triple driver line-up will be the strongest on the BTCC grid. It features two Champions, Jason (2001) and James (2002 and '04), who have collectively won 66 BTCC races (33 each), competed in 479 BTCC races (Jason 213 / James 266) and scored 3,541 points (Jason 1,613 / James 1,928). Jason also holds the BTCC lap record around the 1.639 mile Silverstone National Circuit - a 1min 00.927secs (96.84mph), which he set last year in a SEAT Toledo.

Darren, who made his BTCC debut this year deputising for James when the latter was racing for SEAT in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, finished 3rd on his first ever BTCC race and has been able to race on a winning pace ever since. Jason and Darren will drive their usual BTCC Leons, looked after as normal by Race Engineers Piers Phillips and Nick Clipson respectively. James will drive the Leon he normally races in the WTCC and will be looked after by his usual Race Engineer, John Waterman.

Jason will be aiming to celebrate his 39th birthday on the Saturday by qualifying on pole and the party atmosphere will continue the following day when, weather permitting, The Red Devils - the British Army's official parachute display team, who are supported by SEAT UK - will drop into Silverstone on race day and land at the Luffield complex.

Jason said: "Winning the Manufacturers' title for SEAT at Silverstone is uppermost in our minds and above all else that's what we're going there to do. I'm going to the final round with the same philosophy that I have heading to every race meeting - and that's to do my best and win as many races as I can. If that gives SEAT the Manufacturers' title, then I'll be very happy. As for the Drivers' title, that's another matter entirely. I could have the perfect weekend and qualify on pole, win three races and set three fastest laps and it still won't be enough for me to win the title. The title's not there for me to win, it's there for Matt Neal to lose. Anything can happen of course. I've had eight wins this year, but it's the seven DNFs that have hurt - and if, on the last weekend of the season, Matt gets some bad luck for a change and we have a good run like we did last time out at Brands Hatch, who knows? Stranger things have happened."

James said: "It's such a long time since I last raced on the Silverstone National Circuit, I can't really remember when it was, so I'm really looking forward to it. I remember hitting Rickard Rydell in a BTCC race there in 1994, because I gained a place and felt so guilty about it that I eased off and let him back through, but I can't remember if I've raced there since. I'll have a few cobwebs to brush off, but at least there aren't too many corners on the National Circuit, so it won't be too mentally taxing when I'm trying to learn the way around! We'll have to make a right mess of things not to win the Manufacturers' title, and as that's not going to happen it should be a great celebration. Jason's still in with a shout for the Drivers' title - it's a slim chance, but it's great for the fans that the series has gone down to the wire and it's all going to be decided on the final race day."

Darren said: "I'm really pleased to be racing at Silverstone and it was a nice surprise to receive the ‘phone call to say I'll need my SEAT overalls again this year! I had a really disappointing day at Brands Hatch and it was a real downer to end the season like that, but now I have a chance to end it on a high. I haven't raced on the Silverstone National Circuit since 1996, but I raced on the longer International Circuit last year when I finished second in the Tourist Trophy race. My aim will be to help SEAT maximise the opportunities of having three cars out on the track instead of two and make sure SEAT wins the Manufacturers' title. I really have to thank SEAT for giving me this chance to finish my first season in the BTCC off on a high note."

Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager, said: "Running the three drivers who have contributed so much to our successful season to date is a fitting way to end our 2006 British Touring Car Championship campaign. The job isn't over and we're conscious that we mustn't get carried away with things before we've secured the Manufacturers' title, and that's what we will be focused on doing. We can only nominate two cars to score Manufacturer points and we'll do that after qualifying and hopefully come race day we can win the title in either the first or second races and actually enjoy watching a race for once!"

The BTCC race weekend at Silverstone begins with two 40 minute free practice sessions on Saturday 14th October, starting at 10.05 and 12.05, followed by a 30 minute qualifying session starting at 15.25. Rounds 28, 29 and 30 of the BTCC take place on Sunday 15th October, with the three 22 lap races starting at 10.20, 12.50 and 16.45.

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 18.09.2006 - SEAT Aims for the BTCC Title at Brands Hatch