SEAT gives Cupra stars diesel outing

The quartet, who were given their runs for finishing as the top four in this year's SEAT Cupra Championship, were all given time in the Northern South-run Leon TDI at the circuit

Both Adam, the 2007 Cupra champion, and ex-BTCC racer Breeze, had tested for the squad before on a similar basis with the both receiving high praise from the SEAT technical staff.

Byford was the only one of the four to experience rain during his 22-lap race simulation during the afternoon while Lawson reported that the car felt very similar in terms of performance to his Cupra Cup Leon.

Byford said: "I'd love to think that I could get another opportunity to drive a works Touring Car. The technical support was on a totally different level - I normally engineer my own car. I really enjoyed it."

Piers Phillips, SEAT's chief race engineer this year, believes all four would acquit themselves well in touring cars.

"I think this was the best day yet we've had with the Cupra Cup graduates in four years," Phillips said.

"Jonathan was the consummate professional with consistently quick lap times and good feedback, Robert was impressive, Martin is the easiest driver I've ever worked with and Carl ticked all the boxes. It's clear that all four would do exceptionally well in the BTCC."