View Full Version : SEAT Autosport Q&A - Your Questions?
We're meeting with some of SEAT Sport UK's people on Friday at Autosport, and want to make good use of the opportunity and do a report for the site, probably to launch with the new site.
We have a few questions we know we'd like to ask about SEAT's motorsport aspirations for 2004.
But would like your help too.
So any sensible questions you'd like us to put to whoever we bump into on Friday would be appreciated.
Can't promise we'll ask them all, probably just pick a few of the best all rounders, as obviously SEAT are working to a schedule at Autosport and wont spend all day with us.
So over to you, remember this is SEAT Sport, not about coilpack failures, we're only wanting questions relating to the BTCC, ETCC and Cupra Champs and maybe direct questions for the drivers, as we may bump into a few while were there.
Should make for a great report, and we'd like your input and contributions before we go. :cheers:
NOTE - I am deleting the odd post mainly of my replies, so i can keep track of the questions people put, plus any daft ones will probably get binned too, only so i can follow the form better.
Can we have access to Seat Sport bits and setup knowhow like VW racing does
?
If not, why not.
Why not sell the supercopa as a trackday / competition car ?
Cheers
Rob
big ALI H
06-01-2004, 12:59
* Will SEAT enter rallying (at any level) again?
* Perhaps SEAT Sport UK could open some kind of race school using some of the SEAT Championship cars? Therefore helping people into motorsport - surely this would give the brand massive exposure and a great deal of credibility in helping novices into motosport while at the same time earning some more dollars??? - Or maybe something like the John Cooper Challenge (or whatever its called) in the new Minis?
Std 1.1 arosa's - single make racing
Originally posted by ZBOYD
Rob you got a link to this VW Racing setup knowhow, are we talking VW Motorsport here, its a good question, but I need a relative subject to compare it to, not that i dont take your word for it, i do, but they may not :)
They probably would sell you one if you've got the money.
see
http://www.vwmotorsport.com
they should be pro-active in selling racing bits, in general its really hard to get info - why should this be ?????
Cheers
Rob
big ALI H
06-01-2004, 13:22
Originally posted by ZBOYD
Im sure they do something along these lines in Spain for young aspiring drivers, good question maybe they can answer this.
Just thinking that there must be thousands of drivers out there that could make the grade at various levels of motorsport but don't get a chance cos they don't have the budget or contacts (ie sponsors as required for the SEAT Championship among others).
If SEAT offered a "ready to compete" Cupra or LCR or Ibiza (maybe have a few classes for different cars?) etc for people to buy from the showroom and perhaps also a kit (inc Roll Cage, fire ext, harness, battery cut off, race seat etc etc) so you could do it if you wanted to enter but already owned a SEAT. Again, TBH just nicking the idea straight from the John Cooper Challenge. I'm sure a load of us on here would be up for something like this if you won a drive in the SEAT Championship for example (or even just for fun), nevermind the interest it should/could create amongst non-SEAT owners.
Originally posted by RobT
see
http://www.vwmotorsport.com
they should be pro-active in selling racing bits, in general its really hard to get info - why should this be ?????
Cheers
Rob
Rob
Closer inspection reveals, that VW Motorsport are not in fact VW, so i can't really use that arguement to say VW do it, its a bit confusing they seem to offer catalogues on the cars, but then are not affilliated to VW.
Taken from the bottom of that link ;)
"2002 Rallyparts Ireland.com.ÊÊAll rights reserved. Note this website is not affiliated with VW AG"
Anyhow if we get chance to chat with the technical people who prep the cars i'll ask anyway and see why they won't consider releasing tech notes and things, but i guess if VW and Audi are not, then SEAT wont either..
But this is moving away somewhat from the general goal of the Q&A session. and into the realms of what SEAT will and wont sell.
Originally posted by ZBOYD
Rob
Closer inspection reveals, that VW Motorsport are not in fact VW, so i can't really use that arguement to say VW do it, cause they clearly dont.
Taken from the bottom of that link ;)
"2002 Rallyparts Ireland.com.ÊÊAll rights reserved. Note this website is not affiliated with VW AG"
Anyhow if we get chance to chat with the technical people who prep the cars i'll ask anyway and see why they won't consider releasing tech notes and things, but i guess if VW and Audi are not, then SEAT wont either..
But this is moving away somewhat from the general goal of the Q&A session. and into the realms of what SEAT will and wont sell.
The 'technical' documents listed on this site - many as .pdfs, are all from VW themselves. Also, I have dealt with individuals from VW motorsport themselves but it was like pulling teeth getting a contact.....I dont understand why its so difficult....there is money to be made and I would guess much kudos to be had from people racing with your products....so why not help us some more ? Seat are supposed to be the 'alfa romeo' of VAG arn't they ?
Rob
Originally posted by RobT
The 'technical' documents listed on this site - many as .pdfs, are all from VW themselves. Also, I have dealt with individuals from VW motorsport themselves but it was like pulling teeth getting a contact.....I dont understand why its so difficult....there is money to be made and I would guess much kudos to be had from people racing with your products....so why not help us some more ? Seat are supposed to be the 'alfa romeo' of VAG arn't they ?
Rob
If i can ask something along those lines i will certainly. Its getting the right person to speak to while were there, obviously difficult as most preparation for SEAT is done by SEAT Sport primarily in Martorell,
And we know who SEAT Sport UK are, who have prepared cars in the UK for SEAT for ages, even before the Championships, rally cars and the like.
But rest assured i will give it a go.
mark sheerin
06-01-2004, 16:09
How about......
a competition to win hospitality at one of next years events or even a winner and his family/friends for each round?
Any sign of all wheel drive in anything for the uk?....what about the new Altea?
Some supercopa merchandise instead of just the Cupra R stuff..
Sponsor my kart team with a few stickers and old race suits you tight gits.....
Not really a question that Mark, more of a request.
And i will be on full on compo blag mode.
better off mentioning Skoda with reference to the competition bits
as most of the parts (competition) ones carry part numbers anyway ;) i had a dig about last round ;)
Back to a question :
1. Will the Cupra GT ever become a reality now that lambourgini is a stable mate ?
2. With so many foreign teams having access to works supplied competition parts / cars etc - is a system to be available to UK buyers
3. IF / When will the Leon become available as a coupe/convertible or 4wd (mark asked same)
4. Is market share for all classes starting to improve again as last year dipped slightly and if so are there any particular vehicles that SEAT UK will be pushing/promoting
5. any chance of a free scrapper for me n Dor to do the plymouth/dakar next year :p
Just to reinterate this is Autosport, not a motorshow, so SEAT car production questions we wont be asking. Motorsport based questions.
ETCC
BTCC
SEAT Cupra Championship
any driver related questions you'd like to ask, say if we get to speak to Plato or Huffy for example.
How about:
Will any of the trick bits used on the racing TDI trickle down and be available via Seat sport (along the lines of engine management and accessories).
ZBOYD,
Could you ask about the Toledo, especially if there are any plans (if any) to expand on the Toledo's role in Motorsport or capitalise on the BTCC and ETCC cars? Could they give any hints what will happen to the touring cars next season, especially as the Toledo's getting near the end of it's life?
Thanks
big ALI H
07-01-2004, 06:58
Originally posted by prc
How about:
Will any of the trick bits used on the racing TDI trickle down and be available via Seat sport (along the lines of engine management and accessories).
Good point Paulo, their response to that would be interesting.
Originally posted by Fl@pper
1. Will the Cupra GT ever become a reality now that lambourgini is a stable mate ?
...and VAG have just bought Maserati to sit on the VW side too, so surely the GT is doomed?:mad: :confused:
would be nice if you could get the complete spec of the euro touring car and some nice detailed pics if possible in the car
engine bay etc or any other juicy photos of more seat motorsport cars
but not just what they look like on the outside.
+ would be very nice if more motorsport parts were avaiable to the general public
ps try to get some pics of the seat pr girls
As we already know that VAG will not let SEAT UK have a 4WD car, could we ask them about the possibilty of a rear drive coupe for example.
Some thing thats better balanced for sporty driving as we are all aware of the limits of a FWD system
As i feared this thread has lost its way somewhat. :foot:
The majority of these questions are SEAT production questions, something for the Motorshow later in the year perhaps.
Im after anything suitably about the racing specifically ie ETCC BTCC and the SEAT Cupra Championships. And anything that you may wish to ask the drivers.
What i will tell you is I am not going to ask them about the availabilty of a 4wd Leon, thats not why they are at Autosport.
Autosport is about the racing and i have a good list of suitable questions myself, but i've put this thread up and not many are really about the championship or the BTCC or ETCC cars, the team or circuits..
Dont think SEAT (factory & dealers) think SEAT Sport (ie racing team)
Here's another:
Why is Seat & VAG in general decided to use the TDI (diesel) based engine for some of there racing cars. Most of us have been brought up with the idea that diesel meant slow, long distance old fartknocker driving. Is the decision to use diesels a market or technical decision.
Will SEAT sport show off some of the Drivers & Race Cars at Local Dealerships again this year to promote the Cupra Championship again?
Ho well do SEAT expect to fair against their more experienced BTCC rivals?
Mundane, but brain overload at the mo! :(
I deffo think prc's question about the trickle down development of SEAT Sport branded parts from the racing cars as aftermarket items for us lot is a good one! (SEAT owners) :)
Originally posted by ZBOYD
Im after anything suitably about the racing specifically ie ETCC BTCC and the SEAT Cupra Championships. And anything that you may wish to ask the drivers.
What i will tell you is I am not going to ask them about the availabilty of a 4wd Leon, thats not why they are at Autosport.
Doh!
I should really have read your first post properly.