Pickford & Hines In First Toledo Tests
James Pickford and Luke Hines have been given their first runs in SEAT Sport
UK’s Toledo Cupra that each hopes will carry them to
race victories in this year’s MSA British Touring Car
Championship.
Pickford, who joins SEAT’s BTCC squad as his dream
prize for winning its one-make Cupra title, and Hines, who
has shifted from reigning champion Vauxhall to join the Spanish
manufacturer, tested on Wednesday and Thursday at former BTCC
venue Pembrey in Wales.
Both took to the track after Jason Plato, the 2001 BTCC champion
and eight-time race-winner for SEAT in its debut season in
the championship last year, had shook down the Toledo. All
three drivers wore the Head And Neck Safety collar –
similar to that used in Formula One and the World Rally Championship
and which will be mandatory in this year’s BTCC.
Pickford said: “The Toledo is exactly what I expected
it would be like – very impressive. It just feels right
and already I feel very comfortable driving it. It’s
a natural progression coming from a Leon Cupra R, and that
really helped me quickly get used to the Toledo.
“The first test was just a case of getting some miles
under my belt and experimenting with things like braking points.
I love it – it’s just great fun to drive.”
Hines, working with newly-appointed race engineer Nick Clipson,
added: “The SEAT suits my driving style and that will
be an advantage for me this year. I did a lot of six and seven-lap
stints and I’m really pleased to have got so many laps
in on my first day of testing. I’m really working well
with the team, I’m happy with the car and it was a very
good first day in the new job.”
Schools out: SEAT’s Pembrey test was watched with great
interest by pupils from nearby Aberdare Boys’ School.
The team invited the pupils to go behind the scenes as its
support for the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Reaching
Wider’ initiative, which engages young people from disadvantaged
areas and encourages and supports them to go on to higher
education.
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