Both SEAT’s of Jason Plato and Darren Turner dominated the two-day tyre test last week as the characteristics of the Norfolk track suited the diesel powrered Leon’s. The long straights and relatively fast corners of Snetterton allowed Plato to unofficially break the lap record with a time under 1 minute 12 seconds. The best time that Bennetts’ WSR team could achieve was third with Turkington.
And Bennetts is tipping the SEAT team to keep up their impressive form in a weeks time. “We were happy with the performance of the drivers and the BMW 320si in testing,” he told the championship’s official website. “It was great to be the fastest petrol engine. However the SEAT turbo diesel was in a league of its own and we have no chance against them.”
Despite his predictions, Team RAC will be hoping for a strong showing at their home circuit as the event usually attracts a lot of support from employees of the breakdown and insurance giant. Last year Team RAC had plenty to cheer as then driver Tom Onslow-Cole took his first ever BTCC win for the team.
Team RAC lead driver Colin Turkington saw the test in a different light. “It was a very productive couple of days for Team RAC,” he said. “It is unusual to get two full days of testing and it’s a great opportunity to try things you wouldn’t normally get the time to do on a race weekend.”
Meanwhile SEAT championship protagonist Plato is eagerly anticipating the Snetterton race weekend. “I’m really looking forward to Snetterton; of all the circuits on the BTCC calendar, this is the one that will suit our Leon TDI the best” he commented. “As proven in the recent BTCC test, the layout of the track, with its slow corners onto long straights, will be ideal for us and I think we’ll be very quick there.”
Tickets are still on sale for Snetterton and are available from www.motorsportvision.co.uk with adult tickets starting at £22 if booked before Wednesday 9th July.
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