Photo: WTCC Media

Special Tuning Racing plans two-car return in 2013

British-based touring car team Special Tuning Racing are working to be on the grid this year with their pair of SEAT León WTCCs, running the latest upgrades from SEAT Sport for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship season.

The team took part in their first full season as an independent team in 2012 after leaving the British Touring Car Championship. The team started the year with Hong Kong driver Darryl O’Young and British driver Tom Boardman in their two ex-factory SEATs. The team had one car updated to the latest specs from the opening round at Monza for O’Young, with the second car receiving the ORECA-developed SEAT Sport engine and other updates at Portugal.

The team plan to return to the grid this year, running the latest upgrades from SEAT in their two SEAT León WTCCs, with technical and engineering support from SEAT Sport.

“2012 was a tough season for us, however, with the 1.6T León now receiving further developments we are confident that we can build on the competitiveness of the team as seen towards the end of the 2012 season,” said Team Principal John Boardman.

“Our target is to win the independents’ championship; we have the knowledge from last season and now have a clear view on how to achieve this.”

The team is yet to confirm its driver line-up for the season, with Boardman adding:
“We are currently looking at a number of options with drivers who wish to compete in a proven race winning car with manufacturer support and technical input. We feel that running just two cars with our own technical expertise, and that of SEAT Sport, we will provide the attention to detail to be a front running independent team in the WTCC. Nothing is firmed up driver wise at the moment but this is a great opportunity.”

The teams cars recently returned from Macau, and they aim to be out testing in Spain in early February in preparation for the season which begins in late March at Monza, Italy.
“The team will use this time to bring the drivers, engineers and mechanics up to speed with the revised car,” added Boardman. “The León in its 2013 specification will be closer to the front running pace than was seen in 2012 and we will be making every effort to maximise this.”