Anyone see the SEAT Cupra Championship?

[Ste]

The first ever round was at Croft last weekend.

Considering the lack of excitement usually provided by one-make saloon car series, i was suprised and impressed by the Cupras.

There was good close racing, and plenty of action as the cars spun, hit each other and got up to the usual things that tin-tops do.

It's all being filmed by ITV for a forthcoming docu-soap in the summer, so there were cameras and all sorts around, oh and Nell McAndrew was there presenting it.

SEAT have really gone all out to make this a big deal. It was like a SEAT convention at the circuit all weekend. All the cars are prepared together in a big marquee thing, and the public are allowed in so you can watch them working on the cars and talk to the drivers all through the weekend.

The prize on offer from SEAT is pretty hefty too. The winner of the championship gets a works drive for SEAT in the European Touring Cars next season, a SEAT road car, and a flat in Monte Carlo for the year. The prize has attracted some pretty good drivers, including Spencer Marsh (BTCC Production 2002), Stefan Hodgetts, Robert Huff and Gordon Sheddon.

There are only 5 rounds of it, and a Super Prix at Brands at the end of the season. I don't know if the championship is here to stay, but i hope it is, hopefully with a few more rounds next season.

The offical site is really good too with loads of info on the series and the drivers... http://www.seatcuprachampionship.co.uk/

[BootsOntheSide]

Sounds like a good championship, you can add Natalie Barratt to the list of name drivers. Isn't Gordon Sheddon the guy with one leg shorter than the other?

[Craner Curves]

I haven't heard that one before. I thought it was just ego problems he had. Saw his column in Autosport yesterday. "I don't make mistakes twice". Ooook then.

My tip is Julian Westwood.

[JR Ewing]

Gavin Smith for the title which does seem to have implausably few rounds...

[Ste]

I was talking to Robert Huff's dad at Croft and they seem pretty confident that he can win it. He put in a great drive in the first race to come up from the back, and nobody really got near him in the second race, although we lost a couple of contenders at the first corner.

[Ste]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
you can add Natalie Barratt to the list of name drivers.

Well there are nearly 20 i could have named. She wasn't too impressive at Croft, didn't really stay in touch with the pack, and only really outpaced the young lass who's not really raced before. I know she comes from rallying, but he she done much circuit racing before?

Paula Cook was mixing it in the pack, until she retired. I think she'll definitely be flying the flag for the lasses.

[Claire]

I'm planning on going to three of the rounds at Rockingham, Thruxton and Brands. All sounds like it's got off to a good start and will hopefully grow into something even bigger next season. My tip for the overall winner, Gordon Shedden.

[kestrel]

Originally posted by Ste
The first ever round was at Croft last weekend.
It's all being filmed by ITV for a forthcoming docu-soap in the summer, so there were cameras and all sorts around, oh and Nell McAndrew was there presenting it.

Along side Jason Plato. He's the mentor and main presenter - Nell adds the glamour.

[Ste]

yeah i saw Plato too, but wasn't as happy about that

[AndyF]

Its looking good! Lets hope it keeps entertaining us through the season

[andy_b]

my tip is Spencer Marsh

Hope the mods' dont mind this (please delete if you do), but there is a Spencer Marsh diary at www.seatcupra.net

[racingdick]

whats the racing site???

[Claire]

The site for the championship is www.seatcuprachampionship.com it's a very good site with lots of info and if you register for the paddock bit there is extra info.

[DavidStHubbins]

Huff will walk it... I hope D'Cruz does something too

[plomax]

Originally posted by Ste

(snip)
Considering the lack of excitement usually provided by one-make saloon car series...
(/snip)

...what planet are you from then?

(or do we assume that the sarcasm is implicit)

[Suzy]

I hope Andre D'Cruze does well too. He's been one of my pals for years now and it's about time he had some really good luck.

[andy_b]

Next round is this weekend at Silverstone on the Monday. Click on the link in one of my earlier posts for a raceguide and preview.

[racingdick]

RACE 1
Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship - QUALIFYING - Round 3 - (RACE 10)
POS NO CL DRIVER NAT CAR TIME LAPS GAP MPH
1 3 Stefan HODGETTS Loaded 2:13.439 13 86.17
2 9 James PICKFORD ABT Sportsline 2:13.805 11 0.366 85.93
3 15 Stephen COLBERT Auto Trader 2:14.663 11 1.224 85.38
4 23 Gavin SMITH Smiths Hire Centre 2:14.779 11 1.340 85.31
5 12 Robert HUFF Marshalls of Cambridge 2:15.025 11 1.586 85.15
6 20 Julian WESTWOOD EBS 2:16.817 11 3.378 84.04
7 14 Paula COOK EFS 2:19.786 9 6.347 82.25
8 11 Hamish GORDON Sunday Times Driving 2:19.932 11 6.493 82.17
9 22 Gordon SHEDDEN The Scottish Sun 2:20.030 11 6.591 82.11
10 7 Emmet O'BRIEN DABL 2:20.058 8 6.619 82.09
11 10 Spencer MARSH Beacon Sports Management 2:20.485 9 7.046 81.84
12 16 Andre D'CRUZE Hot Wheels 2:20.876 9 7.437 81.62
13 21 Craig MURRAY Murray Racing 2:21.639 4 8.200 81.18
14 4 Karl GOSHAWK ISG 2:22.044 9 8.605 80.95
15 17 Ben WINROW Telemecanique 2:22.184 8 8.745 80.87
16 6 Natalie BARRATT Barrett Electrical/Mechanical 2:25.244 10 11.805 79.16
17 5 Melanie HEALEY Spur Garage 2:31.000 11 17.561 76.14

[racingdick]

RACE 2
Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship - QUALIFYING - Round 4 (RACE 15)
POS NO CL DRIVER NAT CAR TIME LAPS GAP MPH
1 3 Stefan HODGETTS Loaded 2:06.038 7 91.23
2 12 Robert HUFF Marshalls of Cambridge 2:06.355 7 0.317 91.00
3 9 James PICKFORD ABT Sportsline 2:06.542 9 0.504 90.86
4 23 Gavin SMITH Smiths Hire Centre 2:06.552 9 0.514 90.85
5 10 Spencer MARSH Beacon Sports Management 2:06.960 10 0.922 90.56
6 22 Gordon SHEDDEN The Scottish Sun 2:06.972 10 0.934 90.55
7 15 Stephen COLBERT Auto Trader 2:07.476 9 1.438 90.20
8 21 Craig MURRAY Murray Racing 2:07.921 9 1.883 89.88
9 16 Andre D'CRUZE Hot Wheels 2:08.179 10 2.141 89.70
10 14 Paula COOK EFS 2:08.278 9 2.240 89.63
11 11 Hamish GORDON Sunday Times Driving 2:08.702 9 2.664 89.34
12 17 Ben WINROW Telemecanique 2:08.776 9 2.738 89.29
13 7 Emmet O'BRIEN DABL 2:09.070 9 3.032 89.08
14 4 Karl GOSHAWK ISG 2:10.684 5 4.646 87.98
15 6 Natalie BARRATT Barrett Electrical/Mechanical 2:11.188 9 5.150 87.64
16 5 Melanie HEALEY Spur Garage 2:20.568 9 14.530 81.80
17 20 Julian WESTWOOD EBS N/A

[El_Gibleto]

An excellent performance in both sessions by Stefan, especially in the wet, then drying first session, where he was in the top 7 for all the damp period whilst driving on slicks, then as a dry line appeared captuered pole by approx 4", and then continued to lower the pole time.