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Saloon car sensation Andrew Herron cannot wait for the fourth race meeting
of the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship to get underway this weekend, 17th/18th May,
having secured his maiden category podium just over a week ago.
Taking place at the UK’s fastest race track, Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire,
the seventh and eighth rounds of the SEAT campaign offer a great opportunity for
the 19-year-old Northern Ireland racer to continue his terrific form and add to
his recent success.
Having produced his best ever qualifying performance at the wheel of his
300bhp, Brian Herron Contracts backed SEAT Leon Cupra at Donington Park nine
days ago to secure a place on the front row for round six – just five 1,000ths
of a second shy of a debut pole position – Andrew went on to claim his first
ever podium in the series with a superb drive.
Hopeful his season has turned a corner, the Dromore based JHR Developments
racer has proven he has the pace to challenge at the front in the championship
and is now achieving the results his pre-season form always suggested would be
possible.
Remember, this year’s action is only Andrew’s second in cars and having
already claimed his maiden SEAT podium he is now focused on more rostrum
finishes and is bidding to challenge for his first victory in the prestigious
series which supports the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.
“I’m really confident ahead of Thruxton”, said the Co.Down teenager, “It’s
a great track, incredibly fast, and somewhere I enjoy racing at. After taking my
first podium in SEAT at Donington with third position in the second race, I’m
hungry for more and hopeful we’ll be able to go at least one step, and hopefully
two, higher on the rostrum.”
During recent testing at Thruxton, Andrew was very quick and, importantly,
produced lap-by-lap race simulation pace which was quicker than that of
team-mate, and current series leader, Robert Lawson and fellow front-runner,
2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion, Martin Byford.
“Our pace was excellent in the test so I’m confident we’ll have a good car,
good set-up and a great chance to do well at Thruxton”, added Andrew, “Donington
really was the true start of the season for us after some bad luck at the first
two events so I’m confident now we’ll be consistent podium challengers for the
rest of the year.”
Qualifying for round seven of the SEAT Cupra Championship is set to take
place at 10.45 on Saturday, 17th May, with the round eight session expected to
begin at 14.40.
On raceday, Sunday, 18th May, round seven is scheduled to start at 12.15
with round eight following at approximately 17.30 – racing in its regular
support slot on the BTCC package, there is potential for one of the SEAT races
to be screened live on Freeview, digital satellite and cable channel ITV4.
Provisional 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship Driver Standings (after
Rd6)
1st Robert Lawson, 111pts; 2nd Martin Byford, 93pts;
7th Andrew Herron, 49pts
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