New SEAT Cupra drivers rocking the Championship

As the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship heads to Rockingham Motor Speedway for Rounds 3 and 4, there are two drivers new to the turbocharged, 2-litre car that look to be setting the early pace. Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR) sped to 1st and 2nd place finishes at Brands Hatch to give him an early lead in the Championship, while Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing) showed how quick he was in qualifying and, while he had a disappointing first race due to a wrong tyre choice, managed a 2nd place finish in Round 2.

Not that they're having it all their own way. Returning SEAT Cupra Champion Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) made the same tyre error as Byford in Round 1 but got back to podium stepping ways in Round 2 and will prove a big threat at Rockingham where he holds the current lap record. Welch Motorsport will also be fielding three cars, two of which are piloted by experienced Cupra drivers Carl Breeze and Daniel Welch. Neither had a joyous time at this circuit last year, Welch in particular suffering major damage and failing to see the chequered flag in both races, so they'll be eager to capitalise on strong starts at Brands and make sure they leave Rockingham with everything still to play for.

With similar strong starts throughout the grid and a number of the drivers now with their first foray into racing a SEAT under their belts, it's set to be another magnificent weekend of over-taking action from the Cupras.

Jonathan Adam: "We're looking forward to the weekend at Rockingham as we have sorted the problem we had at Brands Hatch. I had a third and a win there last year and hold the lap record. We're lying fourth in the points after a poor Brands Hatch weekend but will be looking to close the gap to the leader in the points table and I think we will be right up the front for Rockingham."

Robert Lawson: "I'm looking forward to Rockingham; if anything I prefer the circuit to Brands as it's a little more demanding. We didn't know where we'd fit in pace-wise before Brands, but we can take plenty of positives away from there. We know what we've got to do, but I'm not predicting anything. There are a number of good drivers in this Championship, and to know how good you really are you have got to race the best possible people you can. We'll take what we did from Brands and hopefully carry it forward to Rockingham."

Daniel Welch: "As a team we'll go there with a lot of confidence and we're hoping Jeremy Gumbley can go well again. It didn't go to plan for me at Rockingham last year, but that won't affect what I do this time. We did a days testing there earlier this year and went well."

Saturday (12th April) will be a busy day for the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship teams and drivers, with two 20 minute qualifying sessions starting at 10.45 and 14.15, followed by a 16 lap race around Rockingham's 1.94 mile International Super Sports Car Circuit at 16.35. Round 4 of the series takes place the following day at 12.00.