Young saloon car talent Andrew Herron has been revealed as the latest driver to join the ranks of the SEAT Cupra Championship, the 19-year-old ELF Renault Clio Cup race winner confirming his graduation to the series on Friday, 11th January, at the 2008 Autosport International Show.Along with 2007 Clio Cup team-mate Robert Lawson, the 19-year-old from Northern Ireland will continue to race for JHR Developments as the outfit steps up to the prestigious SEAT series. JHR will also continue to run a multi-car Clio squad in 2008.Remaining on the high profile HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship package, Andrew is confident he will be able to hit the ground running when the season gets underway at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent on 29th/30th March, with a long term view of graduating to the European SEAT series in 2009.The Dromore based teenager stunned the Clio Cup paddock last year by ending his first ever season in cars ninth overall in the championship. He then went on to end the four round Winter Series as Vice-Champion and achieved his maiden race victory at Croft in North Yorkshire with a dominant lights-to-flag performance.With just three years of karting experience behind him prior to his saloon car debut last year, Andrew is quickly becoming regarded as one of the most exciting tin-top racers to emerge in Britain in recent years and the Brian Herron Contracts backed star aims to continue his outstanding progress by establishing himself as a force in the SEAT series.Speaking on his 2008 deal confirmation at Autosport International, where he had the opportunity to meet SEAT’s star BTCC drivers Jason Plato and Darren Turner, Andrew said: “I’m very happy we’re staying with JHR this year for our step-up to SEAT and I’m confident we’ll be strong and have a good season.“The whole SEAT operation seems to be very professional and I’m really looking forward to the year now. I’ve been introduced to all the SEAT Sport UK guys, including Jason and Darren, and I’m delighted to be part of the championship.”He added: “I talked with Martin Byford (2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion and the first driver to confirm his participation in the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship) and he’s adapted to the car quite well, he just said it’s much faster than the Clio.“I’ve got a good test programme organised so I’m aiming to start the year strong and get better as the year goes on. Obviously it’s a new car to me and I haven’t driven it yet but I don’t see why I shouldn’t be as quick as anybody else out there.”The 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship will be contested over 20 rounds at some of the UK’s most prestigious race venues, including Brands Hatch, Rockingham, Silverstone, Oulton Park and Donington Park, and will support the BTCC at every race meeting.Each SEAT Leon Cupra race car is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine capable of producing 300bhp. Along with a total prize fund of £250,000, the biggest in UK motorsport, the 2008 Champion will receive a fully-funded race weekend at the wheel of a BTCC SEAT Leon. In addition, the title victor will win a road-going version of the car worth over £17,000.

Herron excels in Celebrity Kart ChallengeAlong with his SEAT deal confirmation on Friday at the NEC in Birmingham, Andrew also took part in the 2008 BP Ultimate Celebrity Kart Challenge where he teamed up with Andrew Bentley, Michael Doyle and Paul Rivett as the Calamity Clios.After problems with the team’s kart in qualifying, the squad had to start from 22nd and last on the grid but Andrew produced an incredible performance during the opening stint to climb into the top four before changing over to team-mate Bentley.Racing against drivers from disciplines including Formula One, international sportscar racing, the DTM touring car series and A1GP, the Clio team managed to complete the endurance race in third place and thus won a prize of £1,000 for chosen charity the British Heart Foundation.“The kart race was fantastic fun, I really enjoyed my time out there and to come from the back of the grid to finish on the podium was an amazing achievement”, said Andrew, “I’m delighted we were able to win £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation, that’s what the race was all about, and hopefully we’ve helped to raise awareness of the charity too.”

Driver Profile – Andrew HerronNationality: BritishAge: 19Date of Birth: 10th June 1988Born: Co. Down, Northern IrelandLives: Dromore, Co. Down, Northern IrelandMarital Status: SingleOccupation: Machine OperativeSponsors: Brian Herron Contracts LtdCareer History:2007: ELF Renault Clio Cup – 9th overall in the championship with one podium; ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup Vice-Champion – one victory and three other podiums from four races2006: European & British Championship Rotax Karting; 16th overall in the prestigious Winter Cup meeting at Garda in Italy2005: Irish Senior Rotax Max Karting Championship – 3rd overall; Athboy Club Karting Champion2004: Irish Junior Rotax Max Karting Championship