SEATCupra.net - Your #1 source for SEAT information - SIX THRILLING YEARS FOR SEAT SPORT UK

:eek:

That's a shame :(

I wonder if VAG will enter another brand in to the BTCC, maybe Audi to compete against the BMW's?

Seems odd that given the sales success that SEAT claim to have had that they abandon motorsport in the UK. If they're not replaced then it'll leave quite a hole in BTCC for next year.

Seems odd that given the sales success that SEAT claim to have had that they abandon motorsport in the UK. If they're not replaced then it'll leave quite a hole in BTCC for next year.

True, but on the other hand, they must think that they have maximised the sales in this sector and its time to try others.

Its a shame alright, just when the BTCC was starting to field decent grids again.

The BTCC was a good thing for SEAT IMHO so it's departure will be a shame. Perhaps it's another good indication of how these companies are tightening the belt.

Perhaps it's another good indication of how these companies are tightening the belt.

I think you're right there, particularly as car sales are on the slide.

Although not related to this bit of news, have heard that XL holiday and airline group have gone in to administration this morning and they are (were) the main sponsor for West Ham United.

Don't know if they were sponsoring any form of motorsport, but it shows that the credit crunch is likely to affect a lot more areas than may have first been thought.

I wonder if VAG will enter another brand in to the BTCC, maybe Audi to compete against the BMW's?

Something needs to happen!

I wonder how much drive Giovanardi will have next year with no real challenge for the title?

Damn! I'm gutted after hearing this news :(

The main questions are who's going to challenge V@uxh@ll for the Manufacturer's Championship next season and where are Plato and Turner going to go?

bum bum bum. Don't think VAG will have a showing next year. SEAT are even getting rid of the SEAT CUPRA CUP....

... SEAT are even getting rid of the SEAT CUPRA CUP....

Not such a massive loss

That's a real shame about them leaving - it's not going to be the same with just one manufacturer left!

I hope they manage to get a couple of others in time for next year

...

I hope they manage to get a couple of others in time for next year

Alan Gow's always saying he's in talks with other manufacturers interested in entering so lets hope some of these talks pay off.

You never know, Team KIA UK and Team Lada may be on the starting grid next season :eek:

That's such a shame - I supported Plato :(

That's such a shame - I supported Plato :(

Well, someone had to!

Lada would be stunning

Esp if they got in a RWD old school Lada

why should they stay, the vauxhalls have barged and banged and bumped their way around the uk killing off the championship.... tbh i would ban the factoryu vauxhall squad and make it a proper all independent team sport....

let the cream rise to the top..

why should they stay, the vauxhalls have barged and banged and bumped their way around the uk killing off the championship.... tbh i would ban the factoryu vauxhall squad and make it a proper all independent team sport....

let the cream rise to the top..

If Seat hadn't had retirements due to a loss of power (or at least lost all their pace) they'd have been even with the Vauxhalls if not ahead so I don't think it's down to the manner of their driving that's the problem.

Also don't forget that last year it came down to the final race.

If Seat hadn't had retirements due to a loss of power (or at least lost all their pace) they'd have been even with the Vauxhalls if not ahead so I don't think it's down to the manner of their driving that's the problem.

Also don't forget that last year it came down to the final race.

Are SEAT staying in the WTCC? If so, I can't help but feel that they're going home in a huff because Alan Gow won't change the rules to make them win!

If Seat hadn't had retirements due to a loss of power (or at least lost all their pace) they'd have been even with the Vauxhalls if not ahead so I don't think it's down to the manner of their driving that's the problem...

Which makes it even more surprising they're just packing up and going home. This season has been a bit of a nightmare for them but they finally seem to making headway (not discounting Darren's bad luck ).

It seems a waste of effort to bring the TDi Leon in, battle all season trying to get it to run reliably, finally get it set up so they're challenging and winning races and then at the end of the season just give it all up. Surely it'd make sense to find a bit more money to run the next full season to prove their point of diesel being a viable racing fuel and possibly even beat Fabrizio "Whoops, I've accidently nudged someone off the track again" Giovanardi.

I like the idea floating around on BTCC.net at the moment that Plato should get some sponsorship, use the now 'jobless' SEAT pit crew, buy his car off SEAT and enter as an Indy.

It seems a waste of effort to bring the TDi Leon in, battle all season trying to get it to run reliably, finally get it set up so they're challenging and winning races and then at the end of the season just give it all up. Surely it'd make sense to find a bit more money to run the next full season to prove their point of diesel being a viable racing fuel and possibly even win with Jason "Whoops, I've accidently nudged someone off the track again" Plato.

Correction in bold. IMO he's always the first one to dish it out, and the first to whinge when someone hits him back.

Correction in bold. IMO he's always the first one to dish it out, and the first to whinge when someone hits him back.

He's no saint and he's usually one of the first to admit to it (when it suits him obviously ).

It's just he doesn't seem to have very similar 'incidents' at nearly every race meeting like someone else.

This is SEAT UK pulling out not SEAT. Factory race teams are run using the marketing budget. Obviously SEAT UK think bang for buck their not getting the sales via BTCC.

SEAT themselves are still running in the WTCC, and have been running diesel a while before BTCC got the engine. Oh and SEAT UK got diesel dumped on them just before the start of the season by SEAT SPAIN. They were orginally going to run petrol again.

He's no saint and he's usually one of the first to admit to it (when it suits him obviously ).

It's just he doesn't seem to have very similar 'incidents' at nearly every race meeting like someone else.

So I imagined all the times he used Matt Neal as a braking point, and blamed Matt for "being in front of him" then?

So I imagined all the times he used Matt Neal as a braking point, and blamed Matt for "being in front of him" then?

Yes. HTH

They're both exceptional drivers who like to push their luck if they can get away with it to bag a few more points, although Plato seems to have mellowed a bit lately.

Yes. HTH

although Plato seems to have mellowed a bit lately.

Probably because now he's a dad.