Brands to mark SEAT swansong
Brands Hatchs Finals Day fixture (Sunday 21 September) will mark SEATs last appearance in the HiQ MSA British Touring car Championship after the Spanish manufacturer announced it will withdraw from all motor sport activity in the UK at the end of the 2008 season.
The company's decision means an end to not only its BTCC programme but also its SEAT Cupra Championship that has been a part of the BTCCs support package since 2005.
SEAT and its SEAT Sport UK team have been a major players in the BTCC since entering the championship in 2004, achieving the Manufacturers trophy in 2006 and the Teams title in 2007 respectively.
In that time its cars have achieved 43 race wins, the majority with Jason Plato who has twice finished runner-up in the Drivers championship in that period. He also has a mathematical chance of winning the crown at Brands Hatch a week on Sunday
A SEAT Sport UK statement read: Since the start of its activities in British motor sport, as well as on a wider stage with the World Touring Car Championship, SEAT has successfully strengthened its sporty and lively credentials.
Now, with the brands image continuing to develop, SEAT UK is looking to broaden its appeal through its marketing strategy. The company will be utilising the resource that would otherwise have been used in British motor sport in areas that will continue to boost brand awareness and vehicle sales.
And said SEAT UKs head of marketing Steve Robertson: SEAT has enjoyed six very successful seasons in British motor sport five of them in the BTCC and it is fair to say that through both touring cars and the SEAT Cupra Championship the brands image has been massively enhanced.
This is emphatically demonstrated through sales of our hot hatches the UK is the worlds biggest market for the Leon Cupra, for example, while FR and Cupra combined account for over 30 per cent of Leon sales in this country.
Thats way ahead of any competitor and shows just how our motor sport activities have really established the brand among enthusiastic drivers.
Now it is time to emphasise SEATs sporty and stylish image through other marketing activities, which will continue to enhance the brands profile.
I would like to thank all the many people that have helped us achieve so much in both the BTCC and SCC over the past few years they can be very proud of what they have contributed.
I would also like to thank, on behalf of everyone at SEAT UK and SEAT Sport UK, the many fans who have followed our progress over these past few years. Your support is hugely appreciated.
