With Lap Record Pace

SEAT Cupra Championship rookie Andrew Herron ended his pre-season testing programme in perfect style this week, the Northern Ireland racer dipping under the official category lap record at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, Friday, 14th March.The 19-year-old from Dromore, who is backed by Brian Herron Contracts, started his week at Donington Park National Circuit on Tuesday. Marking his first appearance at the Leicestershire venue since a 115mph accident there in early February, Andrew had no problems getting back into the groove and immediately impressed with his speed.Arriving at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent on Thursday for a two-day run at the track which will host the opening two rounds of the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship on 29th/30th March, the JHR Developments driver continued to belie his lack of experience by outpacing several established category front-runners and race winners.“Our pace at Donington on Tuesday was great and it was good to go back there after the accident”, said Andrew, “I flew in from Northern Ireland on the morning of the test, got straight into the car and we were on the pace very quickly. “At Brands Hatch in the wet we were actually quicker than two British Touring Car Championship BMWs that were out testing! The SEAT has excellent wet weather performance, it gives you so much confidence in those conditions.“In the dry we only did one proper run, the track was very busy, but we managed to get under the lap record more than once. There were quite a lot of SEAT guys out there and Robert (Lawson – JHR Developments team-mate) was the only driver quicker than me. Considering I used just two new tyres it has given me another big boost.”With the SEAT Cupra Championship test ban coming into force on Monday, 17th March, the past week’s action marks Andrew’s final running until the pre-event practice sessions ahead of the opening two rounds of the season. Friday, 28th March, will see his next track action at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit ahead of qualifying and the races on 29th/30th March.Andrew added: “(Carl) Breeze was on pole at Brands Hatch last year and I was quicker than him on Friday so I’m really looking forward to the season starting now, I can’t wait. The last few tests have seen us getting better and better, everything is coming together just as we want it to.”