SEAT Cupra Championship

[Jamie P-E]

I have just heard that the SEATS will not be at Thruxton. Apparently this is due to the tyre problems they had earlier on in the year. This is a great shame, but they will apparently be going to knockhill.

Jamie:(

[Amanda]

I didn't think the SEATs were doing all ten rounds anyway. I heard sometime ago that they would be doing Knockhill, they should be great round there!

[Jamie P-E]

Originally posted by Amanda
I didn't think the SEATs were doing all ten rounds anyway. I heard sometime ago that they would be doing Knockhill, they should be great round there!

Yeah i knew that but though they would have the same first round as everyone else but as they say "Safety First"

Please note I have only heard this through the grapevine on another site so for official confirmation log onto the official SEAT Cupra Championship website.




Jamie

[Alan]

There is nothing on the SEAT website Jamie!!!

I think this might be someone just looking for reasons when there aren't any - I am sure they will get the tyre compound correct next year so they don't have a repeat of the problems they had this year.

At some stage they will need to decide which rounds they are going to attend - I believe they are doing five or six, same as they did last year. Anyone out there got any definite info on which ones yet??

[Jamie P-E]

I knew it!!!!!!


Typical Gossip

Alan you are right

Jamie

[Cleland Fan]

Looking at Thruxton, the paddock isn't the largest is it? Space constraints perhaps, rather than tyre problems? It's not as if they can plonk the village on a big patch of grass like at Knockhill or on an unused piece of track like Silverstone, with Thruxton being an airport.

[Les]

There have been a lot of discussions about the size of the village but it is actually smaller than the same number of competitors with their own trailers and awnings. It is just necessary to find a large enough flat area as you can't have a step half the way through the area.

[Alan]

I think you are right there Les - remember those little Lotus Elise's a few years back?

I don't think the SEAT garage and hospitality will be a reason for not going to Thruxton - it will probably come down to a marketing decision. In which case being the only circuit in what you might call the "central south" they would almost certainly go there.

I must admit I still think Knockhill will be a bit interesting - even though there is a patch of level-ish ground where the VIP car park normally is. I don't see a problem at the other circuits, although Donington could perhaps be a little tight when you think about it.

Guess this will be another wait and see job - and I may be wrong about Thruxton Jamie, I'm just saying that tyres won't be the reason they don't go there!!!:)

[Jamie P-E]

As I stressed that I heard this from a 3rd party so it could be complete lie we will have to wait for the official confirmation from SEAT

[codename_47]

Originally posted by Jamie P-E
As I stressed that I heard this from a 3rd party so it could be complete lie we will have to wait for the official confirmation from SEAT

If it is true, who will take their place on the supports calender? :confused:

[Les]

there shouldn't be a problem at Donington either as the Melbourne Loop won't be in use so they could set up on there.

[Alan]

Quite right Les!! I had forgotten we aren't going down there next year.:o

[cos]

The SEAT championship is a 12 race season - 2 races at 6 TOCA meetings, not sure which ones though...!

Anyone know who's going to be driving for 2004? I read somewhere that the championship is capped at 20 entries, but I think Julian Westwood, Oli Wilkinson and Stephen Colbert have confirmed so far. Anymore?

[Jamie P-E]

I hope Hamish Gordon does!!!!!!!!! :)

[Les]

Hopefully Gordon Sheddon will be there as well.

Did you see Hamish Gordon's car was one of those in the Seat calendar in Autosport this week?

[Jamie P-E]

No I did not.

(jamie rushes out to buy it!!!!) lol:(





Jamie:)

[wvm]

Seat won't be going to Thruxton - nothing to do with the circuit, just that they didn't want to start their calendar at the start of the TOCA season, because they are only going to be at five of the rounds.

The Cupra Cup is run over ten races, with two at each of five circuits.

So, they will be at Brands Hatch Indy, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Croft and Knockhill.

There will also be the Seat Superprix later in the year, but not supporting a TOCA meeting.

There won't be another championship "filling their slot" at the circuits they are not going to - remember the number of supports has increased this year compared to last year, with only Ford leaving, but Seat and BMW joining, and extra Renault and Clio races.

Renault and Clio won't be at Mondello Park - their slots will be filled by Formula Ireland and Fiat Puntos.

There are rumours that F. BMW will not be at Snetterton, which if true mean that only Porsche will be at every TOCA event.

[Jamie P-E]

will there be another docusoap

I loved that concept last year


Jamie

[Les]

last I heard no they weren't but it is silly season....

[cos]

Originally posted by wvm
The Cupra Cup is run over ten races, with two at each of five circuits.

I'm sure it's 12 rounds, but I'm happy to be corrected...

[Jamie P-E]

Originally posted by cos
I'm sure it's 12 rounds, but I'm happy to be corrected...


I thought it was 12 too.

I really hope they do the docusoap again.

Jamie:)

[tvgod]

Originally posted by cos
I'm sure it's 12 rounds, but I'm happy to be corrected...

It's ten rounds. There are also two races which form the non-championship Seat Superprix...but that's not supporting a TOCA event.

[cos]

OK, that's probably where I'm confused.

[Alan]

The Superprix will be at Donington Park on the 28th/29th August.

Also - and I quote from a SEAT brochure "The SEAT Cupra Championship will be televised again in a similar format in 2004, giving drivers and sponsors outstanding nationwide television coverage. The championship will also benefit from TOCA's television profile delivered in 2003 through the Motors TV satellite channel".

Can we therefore assume that Racing Rivals will be back?

[wvm]

Originally posted by Alan
Also - and I quote from a SEAT brochure "The SEAT Cupra Championship will be televised again in a similar format in 2004, giving drivers and sponsors outstanding nationwide television coverage. The championship will also benefit from TOCA's television profile delivered in 2003 through the Motors TV satellite channel".

Can we therefore assume that Racing Rivals will be back?

Define "similar".

While the docusoap was a good idea, it won't happen again this year for several reasons:

1) It's pretty much going to be the same drivers, so unless they focus the series on Oli Wilkinson the viewers aren't going to learn anything.

2) Because those drivers did it before, they are now prepared for what the show would do to them, and will just play to the camera - we wouldn't see them acting naturally.

3) The ratings last year were pretty poor. Despite being on at roughly the same time of day as touring cars, it only got a third of the audience. And because the races are going to be live on Motors, even fewer people are likely to watch it.

4) ITV are doing a docusoap of Formula Woman, and I can't see them doing the same format for two championships at the same time.

[Alan]

Sorry wvm - I can't define "similar" or add anything else - it is quoted from a brochure we were given by SEAT at Autosport yesterday.

We will have to wait and see (as usual).:)

[Claw]

Who's actually confirmed for this year?

[Alan]

Um! Ben Winrow..... think that is it at present.

[Claire]

There is Oli Wilkinson who won the scholarship and today they have confirmed a new name to the championship, Simon Hepplewhite, he is more used to 2 wheels than 4. Wonder if he will cope as well with the change from bike to car as Aaron Slight did?

[acf8181]

yeah, just ben and oli are...there's some irish guy close tho i think!!

wonder if they'll drop the budget down if they can't get enough (hint, hint!! - incase any organisers are on here).

looks as tho clio's are gonna be very very good this year. prob with the seats is it cost more than clio's and you only get half the races. even tho the seats have better coverage i'm sure the exposure would balance out with clio's due to the fact that the clio's have twice the number of races.

[acf8181]

hot off the press...

ex-motorbike racer simon hepplewhite has signed for seats for '04.

[Les]

and an old friend back in the Maxi Jazz racing days signed yesterday - nice to see you back Andy (Neate). :)


Now if he is up to speed (hasn't raced a lot for a year or two) then he will up the front.