SEAT Sport UK, SEACupra.net Interview

[ZBOYD]

Hi folks.

On Sunday at Donington we were kindly invited to have a chat with Scott Dennis, SEAT Sport UK Motorsport Manager.

We've now published it, so feel free to have read.

http://www.seatcupra.net/sd_interview.htm

[E46]

Very interesting interview, mainly this: "We will stick with our ETCC Spec Toledo Cupra's for 2005. SEAT Sport Spain in the WTCC will start the season in their Toledo Cupra's as well, but may change later on with the new SEAT Leon Touring car that they're currently developing. If we (SEAT Sport UK) are still in the BTCC in 2006, then we would hope to run the new SEAT Leon Touring Car."

[gwyllion]

Originally posted by E46
Very interesting interview, mainly this: "We will stick with our ETCC Spec Toledo Cupra's for 2005. SEAT Sport Spain in the WTCC will start the season in their Toledo Cupra's as well, but may change later on with the new SEAT Leon Touring car that they're currently developing. If we (SEAT Sport UK) are still in the BTCC in 2006, then we would hope to run the new SEAT Leon Touring Car."

This makes sense as the new (road) Toledo has come out. I wonder if Seat Sport Spain is developing a race version of the current Leon, or the future Leon which should arrive in a short while as well.

[ZBOYD]

They are develeping the all new Leon which is yet to be released as a model.

But we expect the new Leon to be announced as a prototype before the end of the year, which should give some general idea of how the the new race car will look.

[gwyllion]

Originally posted by ZBOYD
They are develeping the all new Leon which is yet to be released as a model.

But we expect the new Leon to be announced as a prototype before the end of the year, which should give some general idea of how the the new race car will look.

Thanks for the explanation.

The new Toledo doesn't look suitable as a touring car (too high, no place for rear spoiler , ...). So I already guessed Seat would need to build a race version of the Leon. The impressions of the Leon (from autobild.de) look quite nice: Seat Salsa concept car (front) meets Alfa 147 (back).


This impression is clearly based on the following spy photos.
http://perso.wanadoo.es/cochespias/1717leon3-med.jpg
http://perso.wanadoo.es/cochespias/1717leon4-med.jpg

[ZBOYD]

Yup thats the one, sort of a flattened Altea, based on the Salsa concept car.

As i say should be unveiled officially before long, initially as a Prototipo like they did for the Toledo and Altea before it, but they tend to fast track them from prototype stage now, within 6 months of seeing the prototype they are launched to the market.

Made sense to go with the Leon, the size is right for the rest of the competition on the grid, i'd expect the new Toledo (below) to roll over on the green flag lap let alone race.