SEATs dominate both days of Snetterton test

[ZBOYD]

From BTCC.net

Jason Plato and Darren Turner proved SEAT is going to be a major force in the second half of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship by topping the time sheets at today's official BTCC test at Snetterton. The two diesel turbos were more than half a second clear of series leader Fabrizio Giovanardi in the leading Vauxhall. With no ballast checks in opperation, though, it's unclear to what weight restrictions individual cars were running.

Amazingly there were no red flags during the day with all 15 drivers present and correct all enjoying warm, sunny conditions at the Norfolk venue which hosts the next round of the series in mid-July.

Although all the familiar front-runners were taking advantage of this opportunity to fine-tune their machines for the races ahead, there was one interesting new combination on show: Andrew Jordan enjoying a brief run in Tom Chilton's Honda Civic as a reward for his near racing-winning performance earlier this season at Thruxton. Sadly, however, Andrew was able to set any competitive times in the Team Halfords machine due to technical issues.

The two-day test concludes tomorrow without either Vauxhall and Team Halfords but with both TechSpeed and John George.

1. Jason Plato (SEAT Leon TDI) 1:12.100s
2. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon TDI) 1:12.138s
3. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra) 1:12.641s
4. Tom Chilton (Honda Civic) 1:12.661s
5. Colin Turkington (BMW 320si) 1:12.911s
6. Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic) 1:12.954s
7. Rob Collard (BMW 320si) 1:13.022s
8. Harry Vaulkard (Chevrolet Lacetti) 1:13.076s
9. Adam Jones (SEAT Leon TFSI) 1:13.210s
10. Stephen Jelley (BMW 320si) 1:13.221s
11. Matt Neal (Vauxhall Vectra) 1:13.236s
12. Mat Jackson (BMW 320si) 1:13.270s
13. Andrew Jordon (Honda Integra-R) 1:13.455s
14. Steven Kane (BMW 320si) 1:13.514s
15. Mike Jordan (Honda Integra-R) 1:13.918s

http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1031&PHPSESSID=ca73f0734e9b3c96ddb22c32384f53d0

 

[tris]

It should be a good track for the tdi

 

[ZBOYD]

Both works SEAT's and Adam Jones in his privateer SEAT Leon have topped the morning session of the 2nd test at Snetterton.

JP going faster than he did yesterday. No idea if they are carrying race trim though or correct ballast weight.

Top Six from the morning session.

1. Plato 1:12.032
2. Turner 1:12.333
3. Jones 1:12.680
4. Turkington 1:12.799
5. A. Jordan 1:12.804
6. M. Jordan 1:12.856

Neither VX or Team Dynamics are testing today.

 

[ZBOYD]

Both works SEAT's have again dominated testing in the afternoon session of the 2nd test day at Snetterton.

JP going faster than he did this morning as did Turner.

Top Six from the afternoon session.

1. Plato 1:11.730
2. Turner 1:12.188
3. Turkington 1:12.415
4. A. Jordan 1:12.653
5. Jones 1:12.739
6. Jackson 1:12.795

Looks promising for the Snetterton BTCC rounds in a few weeks time.