SEAT Cupra racers aim for gold at Silverstone

The battle for the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship has stepped up a gear following Jonathan Adam's (Total Control Racing) double victory at Knockhill earlier this month. He's now just 14 points behind current leader Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR) in the Championship standings, which puts the possibility of regaining his crown right within his grasp.

Lawson isn't going to roll over easily though and all of the drivers will be experiencing Silverstone for the first time in these powerful new Leon Cupra race cars, so that uncertainty will only add to the pressure. Lawson and Adam will not only have to get to grips with each other over the 1.6 mile long National Circuit, but their teams will have to get to grips with their
cars' set-ups in just two short practice sessions on the Friday. At this stage making tweaks during qualifying is a dangerous game as grid positions will surely count come race day. And with drivers like Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing) and Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Welch Motorsport) breathing down the pairs' necks in the Championship, and keen to get the results they know their talent warrants, it will be crucial for those with victory in mind to get into the lead early.

It's not just these top four drivers that will be making each other sweat though. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) and Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant/JHR) have proven they have the pace to get onto the podium already this season, while David Green (Daniels Motorsport) and Jeremy Gumbley (Millionpixeldriver.com/Welch Motorsport) looked to have found new pace at Knockhill. Throw into the mix talented young drivers like Daniel Rowbottom (DRM M-sport), Freddy Nordström (Plumbertraining.com/Advent Motorsport) and James Appleby (Hardinge Machine Tools) all racing on a circuit in cars that have never raced there before and anything could happen.

But if the results so far this season are anything to go by it will be Adam or Lawson driving away with the lion's share of the points, and with a fully funded race weekend with SEAT Sport UK the prize for the Championship winner, the battle for those points is set to be a great one.

Robert Lawson: "Even from my point of view the points are very close. But I like Silverstone as a circuit and I think it'll suit us. You can only do your best."

Jonathan Adam: "I think we'll be strong there again. We haven't been there with this car before though and Rob's quick and he doesn't make mistakes."

Martin Byford: "We'll be going out and really attacking at Silverstone. I think we've really got the car beneath us now."

Andrew Herron: "I've been to Silverstone a couple of times before. But I know I'm quick and it's just another circuit so I should go well."

David Green: "I've got no expectations. It's a bigger course than Knockhill was, but after that last meeting I want to get a result there."

After two 45 minute test sessions on Friday 29th August (starting at 13.50 and 15.30), qualifying for Rounds 17 and 18 of the SEAT Cupra Championship will take place the following day, with two 20 minute sessions starting at 09.00 and 14.00. Round 17 also takes place on Saturday 30th August at 16.25, racing the quick Silverstone circuit over 20 laps, with Round 18 on the following day at 12.00 which is a shorter 18 lap race.