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Northern Ireland’s Andrew Herron continued his excellent form during
qualifying for the seventh and eighth rounds of the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship
today, Saturday, 17th May, at Thruxton in Hampshire – a front row start for the
second of tomorrow’s races the undoubted highlight.
The 19-year-old Dromore-based racer, who is seventh in the driver standings
heading into this weekend’s action at the fastest venue on the SEAT calendar,
not only matched his season’s best qualifying performance today but is in great
shape to challenge for a double podium result on Sunday in his Brian Herron
Contracts backed car.
Lapping with a best time of 1m 19.158 seconds (107.14mph) to secure a
second row start for tomorrow lunchtime’s seventh round of the season, Andrew
improved during round eight qualifying to record the second fastest time with a
lap of 1m 18.694 seconds (107.77mph) after a total of just four laps.
“I’ve carried my form on from Donington, it’s good to be back up there at
the front and prove that Donington wasn’t a one-off”, said Andrew after
qualifying, “Second place on the grid is good, it’s only one position away from
where I want to be! On my best lap I didn’t quite get the chicane right but
overall I’m very happy with how things have gone.
“If it goes well, especially in the second race where my team-mate Robert
(Lawson) is alongside me on the front row, hopefully we’ll be able to get a
one-two for the team. JHR is doing a great job, my other team-mate James Appleby
qualified in the top eight for the second race so it shows the team is doing a
good job and the cars are in great shape.”
An interesting fact to consider after today’s qualifying sessions is that
Andrew’s quickest lap of the day, 1m 18.694 seconds, would have been quick
enough to place him 13th on the grid for the first of tomorrow’s three HiQ MSA
British Touring Car Championship races at Thruxton.
Such is the performance of the 2008 SEAT Leon Cupra, the Northern Irishman
lapped the 2.35-mile circuit almost seven 10ths of a second quicker in his
qualifying session than compatriot Steven Kane managed at the wheel of his BMW
320si during the half hour BTCC qualifying period!
Herron to race in memory of Ulster motorcycling hero Robert
Dunlop
While delighted to have produced another highly
competitive performance as he gets ever more comfortable at the wheel of his JHR
Developments run SEAT, the weekend has taken on a much greater significance for
Andrew and the entire Herron family following the tragic passing of legendary
Ulster motorcycling great Robert Dunlop.
An accident during Thursday’s practice for the famous North West 200
motorcycle road race in County Antrim resulted in the tragedy which is yet
another hammer blow to the Dunlop family; Robert’s brother Joey – Andrew’s
childhood hero – having lost his own life just eight years ago during an event
in Estonia.
The immediate thoughts of the Herron family as a whole are with their close
friends the Dunlops and as a mark of respect, Andrew will be competing in his
SEAT this weekend in memory of 47-year-old Robert who was a great friend to
Andrew’s father Brian.
“We’re all devastated at Robert’s death”, commented Andrew, “Our families
have been very close for years and we can understand the pain the Dunlops are
all going through as my cousin Tom died in a motorcycle race.
“I’ve always raced with number three on my car in remembrance of Robert’s
brother Joey so tomorrow I’ll be aiming to do the best I can in memory of
Robert. My dad knew Robert really well, they were great friends, so I hope
tomorrow I can achieve some good results for the Dunlops.”
Andrew added: “Robert’s son Michael won his bike race at the North West
today just two days after seeing his dad lose his life – that takes some doing.
The Dunlops are a real motorsport family and Robert is another hero lost to the
roads again. The road racers deserve more respect than anybody, I take my hat
off to every one of them.”
Racing in memory of the late, great Robert Dunlop tomorrow, Sunday, 18th
May, Andrew will line up for round seven of the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship at
approximately 12.15 with round eight timetabled to follow at approximately
17.30.
Freeview, cable and digital satellite channel ITV4 will broadcast live from
Thruxton throughout the afternoon, beginning at 12.30, and there is the
possibility some of the SEAT action will be screened – check listings for
details.
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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