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Thruxton 2004

Green Flag

11/04/2004

10/04/2004

Huff Impressive In Qualifying

SEAT Sport UK Hits Its Target On BTCC Qualifying Debut

SEAT Sport UK calculated that its pair of Toledo Cupras would make its Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) from within the first six rows of the grid, and that’s exactly what it will do tomorrow at Thruxton after Jason Plato and Rob Huff qualified in 8th and 11th position respectively.

Just 0.6 seconds separated the SEAT Sport UK drivers, as Plato lapped the 2.356 mile Hampshire circuit in a time of 1:17.845, while Huff set 1:18.419. Both drivers share a remarkably similar driving style and, somewhat ironically, both made a mistake entering the final chicane and locked up their wheels under braking, losing time on their best laps.

Jason said: “In free practice this morning in the wet I was seventh quickest and I thought that that was a realistic aim for the afternoon’s dry qualifying session. We eventually finished eighth, so it’s pretty much where I expected to be. I left my braking too late coming into the chicane on my best lap and locked up the brakes a bit. It might have cost us a place on the grid, but I’m happy to start from the fourth row. I have to say that the team has done a fantastic job in the short time we have had to prepare for our BTCC debut. The entire operation is very professional, the presentation is second to none and it’s clear the Toledo Cupra has great potential.”

Rob said: “I said that if I could qualify in the top twelve I’d be happy, and I’ve qualified eleventh and I’m not happy! But that’s just the racing driver in me always wanting to do better. To be fair it has been a very encouraging first qualifying session and it’s exactly where I thought I would be on the grid. On my fastest lap I locked the front brakes up coming into the chicane and got it all wrong through there, so I know I could have been quicker. The best thing is we have a good race set-up and I know I can have a good race from eleventh on the grid.”

The first of three 16 lap BTCC races tomorrow starts at 11.00, and the result of that race will determine the grid positions for Race 2 – where the top 10 finishers start in reverse order. Race 2 starts at 13.15, and the results of that race will determine the grid positions for Race 3, which begins at 15.35.