SEAT Aims for Repeat Performance at BTCC Opener

23 March 2007

SEAT will begin the defence of its Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Manufacturers’ title at one of its strongest circuits, Brands Hatch, when the 2007 series begins on March 31-April 1. SEAT is aiming to repeat the whitewash of three race victories out of three that it achieved at the opening race meeting last year, although with 26 drivers in seven different makes of car (SEAT, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Honda, Lexus, MG and Vauxhall) expected on the 2007 grid, the challenge is year is a lot harder.

In addition to winning the Manufacturers’ title for a second time, the SEAT Sport UK team has an ambitious aim this year, and that is to win all three major awards – the Teams’ trophy and the Drivers’ title with Jason Plato and Darren Turner.

This is Jason’s fourth consecutive season in competition with the team. The 39-year old from Oxford is one of the most successful BTCC drivers of all time, winning the Drivers’ title in 2001 and winning 33 races and scoring 1624 points in 216 starts.

Jason said, “We were good at Brands Hatch last year, and I see no reason why we won’t be good there this year. There are a lot of Championship points up for grabs; we got most of them last year and we must do the same again. We will have to concentrate as a team and not miss a trick; especially on Saturday as qualifying on the front row will be vital if we’re going to win on Sunday. We won all three races at Brands Hatch last year, and that’s our aim again. It’s not a case of being over-confident or too ambitious, it’s just part of our overall Championship strategy, as other circuits later in the season won’t suit us so well.”

This will be Darren’s first full BTCC season – and his first full UK series since competing in the 1998 Formula Palmer Audi Championship. The 32-year old from Leamington Spa made his BTCC debut last year, finishing 3rd in his first ever race at Thruxton. He contested half the season and scored 41 points in his eight race finishes and, more importantly, helped SEAT win the BTCC Manufacturers’ title for the first time.

Darren said, “I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch, because it’s not just the first race of the season but it’s the start of my first full BTCC programme. I haven’t done a UK series since 1998 and I’m really excited. As a team we have a great opportunity to do something very special in 2007 and Brands Hatch is the best place for us to start, as the SEAT Leon works well around there. I was on pole until the final moments of qualifying last year when Jason pipped me by 0.007 seconds, so I know what we’re capable of as a team. It would be nice to start the season off with my first BTCC race victory. That’s the aim, anyway!”

There will be 11 races at Brands Hatch during the BTCC race weekend – three BTCC rounds and eight from the supporting bill, which includes the Blauplunkt SEAT Cupra Championship, Formula BMW, Porsche Carrera Cup, Renault Clio and Formula Renault.

SEAT

See series calendar for British Touring Car Championship 2007

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