ETCC: SEAT take first podium, Priaulx wins!

[the_tsar]

Race 1 Results
1.Jörg Müller BMW 320i
2.Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Romeo 156
3.Andy Priaulx BMW 320i
4.Antonio GarcÃ*a BMW 320i
5.Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 156
6.Frank Diefenbacher SEAT Toledo
7.Tom Coronel BMW 320i
8.Fabrizio Giovanardi BMW 320i

Race 2 Results
1.Andy Priaulx BMW
2.Antonia Garcia BMW
3.Frank Diefenbacher SEAT
4.Jörg Müller BMW
5.Gabriele Tarquini Alfa
6.Roberto Colciago Alfa
7.Duncan Huisman BMW
8.Nicola Larini Alfa

[touringlegend]

Thanks for the results.

That was one of the most enetertaining ETCC races I've watched in a while - think it was because there was a different colour up the front. And SEAT's result wasn't a fluke either - there on sheer pace alone. I'm assuming they had their new rear suspension parts on this weekend ?

[steve nielsen]

Yes, they finaly where alowed to use the new rear suspension, and it seems it worked, Diefenbacher was really on the pace.

[SALEEN S7R]

Yes indeed, was a great couple of races - I bet BMW and Alfa are regretting letting SEAT have their new suspension parts now. I dont think much of Jodi Gene at the moment though, he started off well at the start of the season and has been rapidly going down hill. Maybe Im being too harsh I dont know, he just hasnt impressed me during the last few races. Hopefully things will get better when Plato is on board for 2004.

Still a great result for SEAT and the ETCC. Could we see 3 manufacturers at the front of the championship from now on?

[Portello]

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R

Still a great result for SEAT and the ETCC. Could we see 3 manufacturers at the front of the championship from now on? [/B]

I don't think so, but next year it should be possible.

[Dani Filth]

Jorg looks good for the championship but Estoril and Monza will be Alfa teritory .. and with 40 kilos for Jorg and probably Priaux .. the alfa's could make a clean sweep of the podium in Estoril .. so 11 points in 4 races ... can be done ..

[touringlegend]

I'm personally holding out hope for Priaulx to be champion - what an achievement that would be in his first year in the ETCC!

Thankfully he's on an even footing with Jorg Muller on ballast terms so neither should be able to get an advantage over the other because they are lighter.

[Dani Filth]

it's gonna be close bettewn those two .. but i'm hoping they will lose it to Tarquini

[SALEEN S7R]

I too am hoping that Priaulx wins the title, if not him then Jorg Muller, but we have to face facts, its going to be very tough for them to do it, the last 4 rounds are tracks that will suit the high speed nature of the Alfa Romeos, the tracks being Estoril and Monza.

Hopefully the BMW's can match the Alfas at Estoril, but at Monza I think the straightline speed of the Alfas will be too much for the BMW's to live with.

[touringlegend]

Damage limitation then probably, a top 5 finishing position for Muller or Priaulx would keep them happy I guess.

[SALEEN S7R]

At Estoril in the 1st race Im thinking the best of the BMW's will be 3rd or 4th, in race 2 as the top 8 are reversed Id expect BMW to maybe get a 2nd place or 3rd perhaps. The latter of the top 8 is normally made up of Privateer BMW's so I woudnt be suprised if they moved over more easily for the Schnitzer boys than they will for the Alfa's. The same applies in Monza I think, but probably to a bigger extent.

Does anyone remember Anderstorp? The Alfas were just driving past the BMW's on the long straight, sure it wasnt by as much as 2002 but they are still 1-2mph faster.

[FIRE]

Hopefully things will get better when Plato is on board for 2004.

Will he dance the Spanish tango next year?

[E46]

If Plato is the next year in ETCC, he would be with Seat Uk, not with Seat Sport. Anyway I guess he will do BTCC....

[SALEEN S7R]

No I think he will be with SEAT Sport next year. At the end of this years Seat Coupra Cup he said that the winner of the series would be joining him as his team mate next year. And as the prize for winning the SEAT coupra cup is a ride in the ETCC I think we can assume that he will be in the ETCC, as he said this person will be his team mate. Ive heard nothing with regards to SEAT racing in the BTCC as a works team for 2004. Have I missed something??

[E46]

Look this:
"""Plato and Huff could race in Britain full-time next year
SEAT could join the ranks of the British Touring Car Championship as early as next year with a pair of European Touring Car-spec Toledos, reports AUTOSPORT magazine.

SEAT UK had planned to contest the European series next year, but the rule change that allows ETCC cars into the BTCC is understood to have swayed its decision to race at home.

"There is scope to revise our decision because we can look at the BTCC as well," said SEAT UK Marketing boss Mark McKenna. "We will have to see how the rules situation between ETCC and BTCC cars works, and we will examine the strengths of both series.

"If we aren't in the BTCC next year and the ETCC cars are competitive, there's a strong likelihood we will be in the British series in 2005. The ETCC gets relatively poor coverage in Britain compared to the BTCC. We have to go to whichever series is best for us."

SEAT UK's 2003 programme will feature former BTCC champion Jason Plato and its Cupra Cup one-make champion Robert Huff."""

www.btccwatcher.co.uk/news/seat-join.htm

[SALEEN S7R]

So at the moment it looks like the ETCC is the series they will join - until they know if the Super 2000 spec machinery is competitive in the BTCC, if it is then they will join BTCC for 2005. But until then the way I read that is that they will be in the ETCC.

[touringlegend]

I don't know the in's and out's of it, but the SEAT Cupra championship was launched with the prize being a fully paid drive in the 2004 ETCC. Not sure where SEAT stands as regards to changing their minds.

With the SEAT Cupra's on the TOCA Tour next year it has been said this is a trade off for SEAT UK entering the BTCC in 2004.

[ATF]

Great job by Andy - he has been tipped as many of the ETCC drivers' "driver of the year". I get the impression not many thought he was going to do this well. I certainly didn't think so. But he is such a quality driver!

As for SEAT, great effort this weekend. I heard the commentator mention that Gene had the revised parts on his car but Diefenbacher didn't! Well there you go then!

[Dani Filth]

it will depend what Colciago will do .. if he runs well and outpaces the BMW at Monza . he could make the difference
I wonder how the races would hae looked this year if they would run 2001 rules .. i mean reversing the whole grid

[andy_b]

To clarify the SEAT situation

SEAT Sport is run in Spain and will have at least two cars in ETCC next year

SEAT Sport UK is actually Northern South, the same compnay who prepares the UK Leons for the Cupra Championship. The deal with Huff and Plato (i've actually never seen a p.r confirming his position- although he has stated this in interviews, tv etc). They have not made public where SEAT Sport UK will run, either UK and ETCC. However, the Cupra Championship has moved to the ToCA Tour for next year, so maybe that may give an indication.

In addition, there is a SEAT Sport Sweden team which run 2 ETCC Toledo's in the STCC this year. Not sure what they are doing next year or what will happen to those chassis.


(sorry, sad I know, I do all the sports reports for seatcupra.net!)

[Portello]

I personally hope for Alfa- Autodelta, but it will be a very hard match. I could talk to Andy Priaulx in/after the press conference at Oschersleben. He was (of course) extremely happy and told me that both series(ETCC and BTCC)are on a very high level and he would like to see the series come closer together. For me Andy is a highly likable person and a great driver, although I would prefer to see him in an 156 GTA

P.
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