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RACE NEWS 2006
SEAT confirms price of new Leon Cupra race car
The all-new fully-race prepared and manufacturer-built SEAT Leon Cupra, which will race in the SEAT Cupra Championship for the first time in 2007, will cost £40,000.
The new ready-to-race SEAT Cupra race car will be available from November 2006, from when teams and drivers who plan to contest the SEAT Cupra Championship in 2007 and who have purchased their car(s) early can take full advantage from a longer free testing period. As in previously years, a testing ban will come into force before the beginning of the 2007 season.
SEAT Sport UK is organising a drive day at Rockingham on October 10th, where anyone who is seriously interested in taking part in the series will be able to drive a new SEAT Leon. Interested parties should contact the SEAT Cupra Championship Co-ordinator, Mark Turner, at SEAT Sport UK, on 01604 708075 or mark.turner@seatsportuk.co.uk.
The SEAT Cupra Championship currently offers the biggest prize fund in British motorsport and the £200,000 plus prize fund – with a cool £100,000 going to the winning team – will remain. The fully manufacturer-backed series will continue to offer an unrivalled opportunity for aspiring young touring car drivers to develop their careers, as they forge a relationship with SEAT – a leading contender in international touring car racing – and race in front of rival touring car teams. In fact, no less than nine graduates of the SEAT Cupra championship – among them, Rob Huff, James Pickford, Gavin Smith and Gordon Shedden – have gone on to compete in the Dunlop MSA British or FIA World Touring Car Championships; a remarkable feat and testimony to the effectiveness of SEAT’s unique ladder of opportunity.
Compared to its predecessor, the stunning new 2007 SEAT Leon Cupra race car is a significant technical step forward. Developed and built by SEAT Sport in Spain, it has undergone comprehensive pre-race testing by team driver Jordi Gené, is enjoying a great performance and reliability record racing in the 2006 Spanish and German ‘Supercopas’ and has passed its evaluation test programme in the UK with flying colours.
The 2007-spec Leon Cupra features the new turbocharged 2.0-litre FSI engine, modified to give 300bhp. This is mated to a paddle-shift DSG gearbox with an integral limited slip differential and the car features a full aerodynamic package, including a flat floor and rear diffuser.
SEAT UK will continue to administer and promote the SEAT Cupra Championship as a fully manufacturer-backed racing series until at least the end of 2008, meaning that teams and drivers will be able to off-set the initial outlay over at least two years. This is a crucial aspect for any motorsport program in the UK and represents excellent value. The current Leon Cupra R was originally intended for a three-year commitment, yet is still proving exceptionally competitive in its fourth year.
The new Leon and the 2007 Cupra Championship are already being talked about, not least by drivers already competing in this year’s Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship. Fulvio Mussi, who at 20 years and 73 days old became the youngest winner of a Cupra race at Thruxton earlier this year, sees the new Leon as a logical progression towards his goal of securing a professional touring car drive. “I’m definitely looking at the new Leon for next year,” said the young Colchester driver. “The levels of progression that are possible with SEAT are the main motivator for me. My goal is the British Touring Car Championship and ultimately the World Championship – and SEAT provides the best route to that.”
Ben Winrow is another driver who has stood on the top step of the podium this year and sees the value and opportunity in the new car. “The new car looks fantastic and I’m sure will be amazing to drive,” said the 21-year old Earls Barton pilot. “I came back to the SEAT Cupra Championship after one year in Clios because I believe that the most important thing is to be successful in a series which has a level of competition which pushes drivers. It’s what you’re driving and who you’re up against which matter.”
Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager, said: “The 2007 Leon Cupra race car is an evolution of the current car, taking it to an exciting new level of technical specification. It will deliver a racing experience unequalled outside of the BTCC, providing aspiring touring car drivers with the opportunity to showcase their ability in front of growing crowds, manufacturers and team managers. We are pleased to be able to commit to running the SEAT Cupra Championship for a further two years and look forward to seeing drivers continue to progress through our Championship and onto the BTCC and WTCC.”
Deposits are being taken now for the 2007 SEAT Cupra Championship. For more information, contact the Championship Co-ordinator, Mark Turner, at SEAT Sport UK, on 01604 708075 or mark.turner@seatsportuk.co.uk
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