Photo: PSP

Race Preview: SEAT aim high at Snetterton

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The BTCC season returns after a long break at Snetterton this weekend. Snetterton was host to a recent test that saw the resurgence of SEAT who finally seem to have gotten the best out of the SEAT Leon TDI. Snetterton, based near Thetford in Norfolk is 1.95 miles long, one of the shorter circuits and therefore is lapped 18 times in each of the races.

Previously at Snetterton
In 2007 Colin Turkington finished race 1 on top, but was later disqualified for an under weight car. The race 1 win was then gifted to Gordon Shedden. Race 2 went to Giovanardi. In race 3, Onslow-Cole took his maiden win after Giovanardi and Plato were involved in a tussle that saw them both leave the track briefly.

Snetterton was the venue for a recent test in which SEAT dominated after making improvements and learning how to make the most of the SEAT Leon TDI package. They hope Snetterton will be the starting point for a change in fortunes.

The season so far
At Croft the heavens opened particularly during race 1. The race was red flagged a number of times. The weather improved for races 2 and 3 however it was still wet. Colin Turkington was strong in both race 1 and race 2, though Jackson nearly came from 18 narrowly missing out on 1st to take 2nd. Giovanardi took the third win. Giovanardi steal leads the championship but has extended the gap to last years title rival Plato who had a terrible outing in Croft.

Quotes prior to the race
Steven Kane – Motorbase Performance
“After Croft, everything is positive,” said Kane. “We’ve made a real difference to the cars and it certainly seems to be working. I’ve got realistic hopes for a podium over the second half of the season,” he said. “If we can keep the development going well, I can see a podium coming. Everything we do is really starting to make sense and our season really starts at Snetterton.”

Rob Collard – Motorbase Performance
“A fourth and a fifth at Croft was really good for the team,” said Collard, who led the third race for a couple of laps before contact from Adam Jones spun him round. “Snetterton should really suit the car, and it should be good. We should come back strong at Snetterton,”

Jason Plato – SEAT Sport UK
“I’m really looking forward to Snetterton; of all the circuits on the BTCC calendar, this is the one that will suit our Leon TDI the best. As proven in the recent BTCC test, the layout of the track, with its slow corners onto long straights, will be ideal for us and I think we’ll be very quick there. My focus will be on trying to stick the car on pole and to win two races, plus a really good result in the third. That’s the plan. It’s a make or break weekend for us and we need to get some big results. The Leon TDI is definitely a better racing car now than it was prior to the test. We certainly made some progress with it. We have to take each race weekend as it comes, but I’m feeling confident that we’ve taken a good step forward.”

Darren Turner – SEAT Sport UK
“Snetterton feels like my home circuit. I used to live in nearby Derham and I’ve done a lot of laps around the track in a lot of different cars over the years – far more than any other circuit anywhere in the world. Of all the circuits in the BCC calendar, this is high on the list of places that will suit the Leon TDI. We did well at the test, better than we expected, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do. We now have to turn those test results into big points and begin to claw back some points on Vauxhall and Fabrizio Giovanardi. I’m eighth and Jason’s fourth in the Drivers’ standings, so it’s important we both score well at Snetterton and together give ourselves a boost in the battle for the Manufacturers’ title. If we can leave Snetterton with a big score, we’ll have something really positive to build on for the remainder of the season.”

Schedule – Sunday 13th July
09.00 – SEAT Cupra Championship
09.40 – Formula Renault UK with Michelin
10.20 – Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
11.00 – BTCC Pit Lane Opens
11.10 – HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship
11.55 – SEAT Cupra Championship
12.35 – Lunch
12.35 – Pit Lane Walkabout
13.35 – BTCC Pit Lane Opens
13.45 – HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship
14.25 – ELF Renault Clio Cup
15.05 – Ginetta Junior Championship
15.35 – Formula Renault UK with Michelin
16.15 – Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
16.55 – SEAT Cupra Championship
17.30 – BTCC Pit Lane Opens
17.40 – HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship