Top SEAT Cupra runners relishing Donington encounter

The SEAT Cupra Championship heads to Donington Park a little earlier this year than in the 2007 season, but already it could prove a critical meeting in the race for the title. Two of the early front-runners, Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR) and Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing), are untested in a SEAT around this circuit but on their form in the Championship so far they'll be drivers to watch. In four rounds Lawson has already scored a leading 70 points from a maximum of 88, while fellow newcomer to the series Byford is just 11 points behind him in 3rd .

Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Welch Motorsport) is the man in between them at the moment and Donington could be his chance to regain the lead in the Championship. Last year Breeze's title hopes were effectively blown away at this circuit, leaving the weekend with no points after sustaining massive damage in the first race. But the recent testing at Thruxton saw him set an unofficial lap record of 1:18.962, which was faster than both Lawson and reigning SEAT Cupra Champion Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing), meaning he stands a great chance of making up for last year's disappointment at Donington this time around.

Adam shouldn't be discounted though. Running a brand new SEAT Cupra at Rockingham he and the team struggled to find the pace they needed, but with a decent break between the two meetings to work on the car Adam is sure to be back on top form. With other drivers like Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport), Dan Rowbottom (DRM M- sport), Freddy Nordström (Plumbertraining.com/Advent Motorsport), Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant/JHR) and Jeremy Gumbley (MillionPixelDriver.com/Welch Motorsport) all showing flashes of brilliance too, Donington Park has the potential to put some new names up on the podium and maybe see some others slide down the Championship standings.

Daniel Welch: "If it rains and if all other circumstances are right, then I'll win at Donington. We like a bit of wet weather!"

Jonathan Adam: "Donington in the wet last year we had a second and a first and I won that first race by about fourteen seconds. If we can dial the car in by then I can't see why we wouldn't go well again this time round."

Robert Lawson: "I like Donington. If it's wet or dry we've shown already that we can deal with whatever's thrown at us."

Carl Breeze: "We'll have had a bit of a break before Donington so it gives us a chance to get well prepared. It's a strong Championship, all five of the top finishers are going to be chasing the title all season… it's a case of who finishes the races."

Dan Rowbottom: "We don't know the set-up for Donington specifically, but at least I've driven it before so we can concentrate on that rather than learning the circuit. That'll be the first time that's happened this season. If we can stay consistent I'd like to think we'd could be on the podium by Thruxton if not before."

The 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship gets its first taste of the 1.96 mile Donington Park National Circuit on Thursday 1st May, with two 55 minute test sessions starting at 09.00 and 13.00. Drivers and team managers have been invited to a media and sponsorship seminar the following day, while track action resumes on Saturday 3rd May with two 20 minute qualifying sessions starting at 09.05 and 14.05. Then on Sunday (4th May) there will be two 14 laps races, with Round 5 starting at 11.55 and Round 6 at 17.50.