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RACE VICTORY SEES SEAT SPORT UK MAKE DREAM BTCC DEBUT
12 April 2004
SEAT Sport UK made a dream debut in the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Thruxton last weekend (April 11th) when Jason Plato gave the SEAT Toledo Cupra its first race victory anywhere in the world.
Making his return to the BTCC for the first time since winning the drivers’ title in 2001, Plato exceeded the new team’s aim of finishing all three races, by scoring points in all of them as well. Rob Huff, making his BTCC driving debut, proved that the current Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Champion is the perfect SEAT Sport UK team-mate by finishing his first ever BTCC race in 6th place, out of 22 starters.
There was no mistaking SEAT Sport UK’s presence in the Thruxton paddock, as its partnership with RML has created one of the most colourful and professional looking teams in the BTCC. It was the SEAT Toledo Cupra’s stunning BTCC debut out of the track which was the main talking point of the event, with the second round race win the highlight of a successful weekend.
Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager, said: “To be fair, this race victory far exceeds our expectations. Five weeks ago, when the Toledo Cupras arrived in the UK, we did not envisage standing on the top step of the podium in our second BTCC race. A lot of people have worked very hard for this. Jason drove incredibly well to win race two, Rob has made a very good start to his BTCC career and it has been a truly great team effort.”
Jason Plato said: “It’s been a dream debut for SEAT Sport UK in the BTCC and to win the second race is one of the most rewarding wins that I have ever had. I’ve been working on this project with SEAT right from the very start eighteen months ago and I’m so happy for all of the team. Everyone has worked so hard to get here, and to win a race on our BTCC debut is beyond our wildest dreams. It is great to be back in the winners’ circle, but we are under no illusions. Our aim remains to work hard and to put ourselves in a position to win the title next year. It’s been a fantastic start for the team and for me personally it’s just great to be back.”
Rob Huff said: “I was really pleased to finish sixth in my first ever BTCC race and I’m equally pleased that I have the pace to race with the very best touring car drivers in the UK. The team’s done a fantastic job, SEAT has given me a great car and it’s looking very good for the rest of the season. I’m happy with my pace and my result in the first race proves that I can race with the best of them.”
Thruxton (April 11th) - BTCC rounds 1,2,3 - SEAT Sport UK race summary
Race 1
Jason Plato: Qualified 8th. Finished 8th.
Rob Huff: Qualified 11th. Finished 6th.
Having both qualified for the opening race in the top half of the grid, Plato and Huff ran in a strong 6th and 8th place respectively for most of race before Race 2 starting grid position tactics on the final lap saw Plato ease off to finish 8th and Rob move up to 6th.
Jason said: “The objective in the first race was always to push hard at the start and open up a gap so I could control the pace and try to finish tenth. The tactic worked well. I had a great start and kept out of trouble, and towards the start of the last lap I slowed down to let Rob and another car through entering the chicane. Although it was getting a little busy at the finish line, and I would preferred to be starting the second race on the front row of the grid, finishing eighth to start on the second row is really good.”
Rob said: “I had a good start but had to keep lifting off because cars in front of me where spinning everywhere. I got around Luke Hines on the outside of Goodwood and had a cracking race with Michael Bentwood – keeping him behind me all race. Jason pointed and let me through at the chicane before we entered the final lap, and coming through the chicane for the last time I locked my brakes and had to hold on to a big sideways moment without losing a place. I really enjoyed my first ever BTCC race and I’m delighted to have finished in sixth place.”
Race 2
Jason Plato: Started 3rd. Finished 1st.
Rob Huff: Started 5th. DNF.
Plato sensationally won the second round of the BTCC at Thruxton. He led for the final 12 laps, superbly exploiting the advantage his SEAT Toledo Cupra had in the tight Complex section and under braking and keeping rival Yvan Muller behind him all the way to the chequered flag. Plato also set the fastest lap of the race – lapping the 2.5 mile circuit in an average speed of 108.28mph (174.27kph).
Huff had a great start and was running in second place, ahead of Plato, when he clipped a kerb on the inside of Goodwood corner and momentarily went off the track – slipping down to 7th position. In the re-start after a safety car incident, Rob’s Toledo Cupra was hit from behind and pushed into another car – the impact on the front right wheel eventually leading to it losing its front brakes.
Jason said: “This is one of the most rewarding race wins that I have ever had in my entire career. I’ve been working on this project right from the very start eighteen months ago and I’m so happy for all of the team. It’s just great to be back on the winners’ step of the podium, and the reaction from the crowd was awesome. It was a great race. I was faster in the tighter parts of the circuit and could pull away through the Complex and gain a bit under braking. You can make a car very wide at Thruxton, and I knew that if I was still leading with three laps to go I would beat Yvan [Muller]!”
Rob said: “I had a great start and was lying second when I hit the kerb on the inside of Goodwood. After the re-start I got hit from behind and lost a lot of places, but after that you don’t use the brakes until you come into the chicane at the end of the lap, and when I hit the pedal it went to the floor. A union had been knocked off and I had no front brakes at all. I spun off the track, stopped before hitting anything and just came into the pits. The up side of this was that I could watch Jason win for SEAT from the pit wall! It’s a fantastic result and I’m delighted for everyone in the team.”
Race 3
Jason Plato: Started 1st. Finished 4th.
Rob Huff: Started 17th. DNF.
With his Toledo Cupra weighed down with 42kgs of Race 2 victory ballast, Jason drove through most of the 16 lap race with a vibration in the rear of the car. Rob started 12th and had moved up two places before contact with another car damaged his steering arm, leading to his race retirement six laps later.
Jason said: “I must have picked up some debris, because there was a big vibration coming from the rear of the car and there is nothing mechanically wrong. I thought I had a puncture at one point and eased off, which let James Thompson through. It was another great race, real door-to-door stuff, and even with our weight disadvantage I think we have done ourselves proud this weekend. It’s been a fantastic BTCC debut.”
Rob said: “I was side-by-side with Carl Breeze going through the Complex and he turned in on me, hitting my front right wheel. I didn’t know it at the time but that impact had damaged the steering arm track rod and after six laps it buckled coming through the chicane. I couldn’t turn right and ran over the grass, losing my front spoiler, and I had to complete another lap before coming into the pits. It was unfortunate, but these things happen. Overall, it’s been a fantastic weekend for the team. I’m happy with my pace and my result in the first race proves that I can race with the best of them.”
British Touring Car Championship points - after 3 rounds
Drivers
1. Yvan Muller….38pts
2. James Thompson….28pts
3. Jason Plato….28pts
4. Anthony Reid….25pts
5. Dan Eaves….15pts
6. Matt Neal….14pts
7. Michael Bentwood….14pts
8. Luke Hines….10pts
9. Robert Collard….9pts
10. Colin Turkington….7pts
11. James Kaye….6pts
12. Rob Huff….5pts
Manufacturers
1. Vauxhall….80pts
2. Honda….48pts
3. SEAT….36pts
4. Proton….10pts
Teams
1. VX Racing….66pts
2. WSR….32pts
3. SEAT Sport UK….31pts
4. Computeach Racing….29pts
Rounds 4,5 and 6 of the BTCC takes place at Brands Hatch on Sunday 24th April.
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