Scott Dennis:
I think its going to be difficult, British Touring Cars isn’t an easy championship to win, ask
Matt Neal, ask Vauxhall. Every weekend is going to be a challenge, there are new cars coming in and we don’t how competitive they will be compared to the Leon so I think whoever wins the championship come October will have had a hard fight.
Q:
How important will it be to make the past experience with the Leon and with S2000 count in the early rounds of the year when others might have problems?
Scott Dennis:
We have to take advantage. We have to take every opportunity when it comes to scoring points and as you quite rightly say, if the others are suffering from teething problems early on, then that is when we need to maximise our points scoring opportunities. We need to concentrate on consistency, both from the drivers when they are out there in the car and in the level of professionalism from the team. We need to raise our game a little and eradicate the small mistakes that we made, and while I say small mistakes, they were costly mistakes in 2006. We have to give the guys the best opportunities that we can.
Q:
In 2006, you got that elusive manufacturers’ title for the first time, which is what SEAT craved. How important is it to now push on and try and take a first drivers’ title?
Scott Dennis:
Very important. In 2006, it was the first season of the three we have been in that we felt we had a chance with the new Leon and the main objective was the manufacturers’ championship which we successfully brought home. It will be key for us to defend that and not let Vauxhall have it back, but equally, going into our fourth year, to win the drivers’ title would be a huge achievement. That is what we are going to focus on and on the back of that, if we end up with a clean sweep of all three titles then all the better.
Q:
How nice would it be to add the team title as well as that is the one that would really reward the guys who work on the car each weekend…
Scott Dennis:
We do value all three of the championships and there isn’t one that we don’t want to win. You’re right, it does reward the guys who have put their heart and soul into it through the season and I think it would be a huge achievement for SEAT Sport, having been in the BTCC for four years, and to look back at the statistics we have wracked up in that short time it is quite impressive.
Q:
Your role as motorsport manager for SEAT UK extends beyond the BTCC and in 2007 the Cupra Cup debuts its new look here in the UK. How excited are you at the prospect of the new look Cupra series kicking off in April?
Scott Dennis:
Very excited and I think that everyone we are talking to about it is very excited as well and that is the key thing, that people are excited by it and want to be part of it. The decision to keep the mark one car running was made so that teams that have made an investment for the last two years can continue to get some value from that and the new car is a stunning looking and stunning performing car.
Q:
We saw some exciting racing with the old car in 2006, what can we expect when the new car is thrown into the mix?
Scott Dennis:
Equally exciting racing. Realistically, until we get to the first round with a grid of both cars and the drivers in them, it is difficult to speculate on what the performance will be. Obviously the new car should be quicker but not only are fans in for a treat with British Touring Cars, I also think with two races for the SEAT Cupra Championship as well.
