Oxfordshire has its own SEAT dream team lined up to do battle in the latest rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship - Jason Plato (Oxford) is a well-known name and he's about to be joined for the first time in the Spanish manufacturer's squad by Banbury's Darren Turner.
Thruxton, Hampshire on 4 June will see Turner make his BTCC debut - he's filling in as Plato's team-mate when James Thompson is away contesting the World Touring Car Championship for SEAT.
Turner has a proven track record - after Thruxton he'll be competing for Aston Martin in the world-famous Le Mans 24 Hours sports car event - but he knows that surviving the cut and thrust of the BTCC's all-action races will require all his cunning.
"Let's put it this way, SEAT isn't paying me to spend weeks and weeks getting up to speed - I'm expected to get in the car and go and do the job," said Turner.
"The number one goal is to score as many points as possible for SEAT. From a personal point of view, if I sneak onto the podium in just one of the races I'll be happy. If I'm on Jason's pace I'll be happy. And if I win a race then I'll be very happy, but I think that's a bit of a long shot..."
Turner, though, is expected to adapt quickly in SEAT's Leon which has won four of the season's opening nine rounds. He's a top line racer at international level - in addition to his Aston Martin role, he's been a test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes F1 team and contested the German DTM touring car series - and Thruxton is his favourite track. Furthermore, Turner sees Thruxton as an important opportunity to prepare for his return to the BTCC for three more meetings later in the year, starting at Donington Park on 30 July.
"Thruxton will serve several important functions," added the 32-year-old. "It'll give me a chance to learn everybody else's strengths and weaknesses and how a whole BTCC race weekend works. Jason is the only driver I've ever raced against. I'm sure everyone else will be taking a look at me too.
"I've tested the SEAT, but not since March. I was on the pace, but that was at a quiet test and it wasn't on a track with high-speed corners, which is what Thruxton is all about. I need to sample the real thing to get a proper feel for it. I'll come out of Thruxton knowing what the score is which will help for the future."
Turner says there is pressure - Thompson and Plato currently lie second and third in the standings and SEAT leads both the Manufacturers' and Teams' championship - but he isn't looking for excuses.
"There are no excuses," said Turner. "The car is obviously very good as the results show, but front-wheel-drive is new to me. I'll also have to carry James's success ballast, an extra 36kgs, which won't help. But it's up to me adapt. Any pressure on me will come from me. It's going to be a daunting weekend. I'm under no illusions - it's straight into the lion's den..."
Turner will be in race action along with the rest of the BTCC grid three times at Thruxton on 4 June and the crowds will be able to meet the star drivers for autographs and give-aways during the FREE and hugely popular Pit Lane Walkabout session. Another seven races are on the bill from high-profile supporting championships run by leading manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT.
Admission to the circuit for children aged 15 and under is FREE, while adults can still book all-day tickets for just £20.00 on the Thruxton circuit's website barc.net or via the ticket hotline 01264 882200.
