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RACE NEWS 2006
First SEAT Champion helps youngest driver in 2007
Rob Huff, the inaugural SEAT Cupra Champion and British and World Touring Car race winner, will return to his roots in 2006 when he continues to driver-coach Liam McMillan in the 2007 SEAT Cupra Championship.
Liam has already collected his brand new Leon Cupra from SEAT Sport UK, and the car will be run by Maxtreme – a new team set up by Rob, Liam and Liam’s father Paul McMillan in a new purpose-built workshop in Wisbech, near Peterborough. Maxtreme will also run three cars in the 2007 Saxmax Championship for Tommy Davison, Sam Schofield and an as-yet undisclosed driver.
Liam won the Saxmax title last year in his first season of motor racing, scoring 11 wins from 12 races and qualifying on pole 12 times. Liam hadn’t even raced in karts beforehand, making his outstanding performance even more remarkable.
Rob attended all the Saxmax test sessions and races that his busy WTCC schedule would allow, and has been advising Liam since the beginning of 2006. At just 16 (date of birth: 3 May 1990) will be the youngest competitor ever to take part in the SEAT Cupra Championship and Rob believes he is a star of the future.
“Liam’s father asked me to give Liam some driver coaching, and within that we created a three year plan,” explained Rob. “The first year was in the Saxmax Championship and the obvious choice after that was the SEAT Cupra Championship. I’ve done that series myself and I know the support SEAT gives to the series, so I had no hesitation in recommending that as Liam’s next step. Racing in the Cupra series is a two year plan. The first year is all about learning about race craft and racing on slick tyres and Liam won’t be under any pressure – although I think he’s capable of getting a podium towards the end of the year. In 2008 Liam will be trying to win races and challenge for the title. We’ve got a plan, Liam’s an exceptional talent and I’m happy to help him as much as I can.”
It might come as no surprise to discover that Liam has inherited his racing talents from his father. Paul McMillan has been racing for over 20 years in everything from GTs to Thundersaloons and hot-rods, and he won the 2004 Hot Hatch Championship in a self-built Honda Civic Type-R.
“It was a chance meeting with Rob in January 2006, when he tested Liam’s Saxmax car for Autosport magazine, that started the relationship off,” said Paul. “I asked Rob if he could advise Liam and he’s been to every test session and race that he could be at since. Having won the Saxmax title we sat down and looked at what to do next and we’ve taken Rob’s advice and will be racing in the SEAT Cupra Championship in 2007. The package on offer, the cost of running the car and the car’s specification is fantastic and we’re all agreed the Cupras is the place to be. The aim is to learn it in 2007 and win it in 2008.”
With age very much on his side, Liam is one of Britain’s brightest young touring car prospects, and engaging the help of Rob shows that he is willing to take advice with the aim of developing his undoubted driving talents to the full.
“The new Leon Cupra is very different to what I’m used to, but I can’t wait to start testing,” said Liam. “I don’t think left-hand drive will be a problem, but it might take me a while to get used to racing on slick tyres and the Direct Shift Gearbox. I’m impressed with SEAT Sport UK’s support set-up and it’s great not to have to commit to a load of spares at the beginning of the season as SEAT will bring them to all the events and you just buy what you need on the day. On a tight budget, that’s a great help. I think the SEAT Cupra Championship will really help me develop as a driver and I’d like to follow in Rob’s footsteps and become a professional touring car driver.”
Liam is the first driver to confirm his participation in the 2007 SEAT Cupra Championship – just as Rob was in 2003.
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