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Thruxton 2004

Green Flag

11/04/2004

SEAT - Race 3 Weekend Complete

SEAT Sport UK Completes Superb BTCC Race Debut

Race 2 winner Jason Plato finished 4th in the third and final race of the weekend at Thruxton to complete a sensational Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) debut for SEAT Sport UK.

With his Toledo Cupra weighed down with 42kgs of victory ballast, Jason drove through most of the 16 lap race with a vibration in the rear of the car. It gradually got worse, and Jason even eased off momentarily on the penultimate lap as he thought he had a rear puncture. His was enough to allow James Thompson to pass, leaving Jason to finish 4th – still a fantastic result to end the SEAT Sport UK team’s BTCC debut.

Team-mate Rob Huff started 12th and had moved up two places before contact with another car damaged his steering arm. It gradually became weaker, and turning through the chicane the loading on the arm caused it to buckle, sending him across the grass on the inside of the track. A lap later he came into the pits.

Race 3:
Jason Plato: Started 1st. Finished 4th.
Rob Huff: Started 17th. DNF.

Jason said:
“I must have picked up some debris, because there was a big vibration coming from the rear of the car and there is nothing mechanically wrong. I thought I had a puncture at one point and eased off, which let James Thompson through. It was another great race, real door-to-door stuff, and even with our weight disadvantage I think we have done ourselves proud this weekend. It’s been a fantastic BTCC debut.”

Rob said:
“I was side-by-side with Carl Breeze going through the Complex and he turned in on me, hitting my front right wheel. I didn’t know it at the time but that impact had damaged the steering arm track rod and after six or seven laps it buckled coming through the chicane. I couldn’t turn right and ran over the grass, losing my front spoiler, and had to complete another lap before coming into the pits. It was unfortunate, but these things happen. Overall, it’s been a fantastic weekend for the team. I’m happy with my pace and my result in the first race proves that I can race with the best of them.”