SEAT Cupras up for sale.

SEAT's Cupra Cup championship, which gave the British Touring Car Championship Brands Hatch race winner, Rob Huff, sees all its cars up for sale for next season but it remains on the BTCC support package.

For the 2003 and 2004 seasons the Leon Cupra R race cars were prepared and run by SEAT Sport UK and the winner of the championship was awarded a drive with SEAT's BTCC team.

Grids for this year were not massive and the cars will now be offered for sale to individual teams who will prepare the race cars themselves and benefit from bringing their own drivers and sponsors to the championship.

SEAT Sport UK will continue to co-ordinate and administer the series and all the promotional and marketing activities will continue to enjoy full manufacturer support.

There will be new regulations for the series and the calendar should be extended to at least 18 races say the organisers. Although planned to run for three years with the cars run by SEAT, the revised championship is planned to run for a minimum of two years adding a year to the overall lifespan of the series.

The prize fund for the 2005 will include a six figure sum available to the teams and a test for the top four drivers in a SEAT touring car.

"The Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship has run successfully for two years and has already produced one BTCC race winning driver. We want to ensure that the SEAT Cupra Championship continues to be an important stepping stone for young drivers wishing to race in touring cars, and now is the time to broaden the appeal of the series," says Scott Dennis, SEAT UK's national motorsport manager. "The Championship will benefit from these changes, and to show our commitment to British motorsport we are extending the SEAT Cupra Championship for a fourth year."

BTCC boss Alan Gow is happy to see the manufacturer support of the series continue. "I'm delighted that the SEAT Cupra Championship will feature at every mainland round of the BTCC in 2005 and that SEAT is continuing its commitment to British motorsport," he said. "The Championship provides a good proving ground for young drivers wishing to move up into top flight touring car racing, and I'm looking forward to more future champions making the transition into the BTCC."

There is, of course, one problem. The SEAT Leon Cupra R race cars are out in action for the touring car Masters race at Donington Park at the final BTCC round of the season. With so many top touring car drivers doing battle it might be worth SEAT noting that scrap metal currently trades at around ?40 per ton.

See the touring car Masters race for ?7.50!

Visit the dramatic end to the BTCC season at Donington Park for half price - only ?15 for two person entry - thanks to Halfords and Team Dynamics. BUY NOW