Former British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and British GT Championship driver Simon Blanckley has revealed that he will be racing in the Spanish SEAT Leon Supercopa when the series visits Jerez next weekend (17th/18th October). The car will be run under his own team, Sibsport.com, which Blanckley originally formed when he entered the BTCC in 2007 as an independent in a Honda Integra.
Blanckley, from Durham, has achieved some excellent results in his Sibsport.com SEAT Leon Cupra since buying the car from fellow ex-BTCC and current World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) racer Tom Boardman in the early part of 2008. So far in 2009 he has beaten faster cars in the LMA Euro Saloons series, including several podiums and an overall win. He also has taken two class wins and several podium places in the Northern Saloon & Sportscar Championship at his local circuit of Croft.
The Sibsport.com Leon was originally built for the 2007 Supercopa so Jerez marks the first time that it will return to its original battle ground. During last year Blanckley worked closely with Tom Boardman’s father, John, whose company Special Tuning UK supplies all SEAT Sport parts direct from Spain. This allowed Blanckley’s car to be upgraded last season to the latest Spanish specification and as such is one of a tiny number of UK-based Leons that are eligible to race in the Supercopa.
Speaking before his first ever race meeting outside the UK, Blanckley said: “I’m really excited and looking forward to the weekend but there is no doubt that it will be a big challenge. They are expecting around 35 cars to line up on the grid in Jerez so the action on track will be very hectic, especially as it’ll be the first time I’ve raced in a one-make series with all the cars running to the same performance level. I’ll be up against many fast and ambitious young drivers and of course I’ll have never driven the circuit before I arrive but I feel 100% comfortable in the car and know what it’s capable of.
“The assistance that John Boardman has given us has been fantastic throughout the time I’ve owned the Leon and his previous experience of running the car in Spain has been invaluable in terms of guidance. It will be tough but I’d like to achieve at least one top ten result in the three races.”
With the 2009 racing season heading towards its conclusion, Blanckley already has a vision for next year. “The weekend in Spain will be an evaluation for me as I’m potentially looking at doing the Supercopa for the full season next year – but we’ll see!”.
The SEAT Leon Supercopa will be supporting the Spanish GT and Formula Three Championships so the Sibsport.com team will be out to entertain the expected large and enthusiastic Spanish crowd when racing begins. Blanckley will first take to the track on the Friday for practice and qualifying before the first two races on Saturday, with a longer race on Sunday.
