SEAT reach the end of the WRC road.

The SEAT Sport team reflected on their WRC adventure after finishing their final World Rally event today.

On today's third and final leg of the Rally of GB, the trio of bright yellow C?rdoba WRC E3s brightened up the Welsh hillsides, as the French crew of Didier Auriol/Denis Giraudet brought the top-placed SEAT home in ninth position.

Harri Rovanper?/Risto Pietil?inen finished the gruelling event tenth, while their fellow Finnish team-mates, Toni Gardemeister/Paavo Lukander, finished in twelfth place, with the fourth Cordoba of Gwyndaf Evans having retired on Leg Two of the event with a broken clutch.

In the future, SEAT Sport plan to prepare their C?rdoba WRC's for competition in national rally championships, as well as developing high-performance, limited edition cars for the road.

Vicente Aguilera, President of SEAT Sport, paid a special tribute to his SEAT Sport team: "Today we completed a very important and successful period for SEAT Sport. It is a very special day and a lot of memories fill my mind."

He then outlined what he believed to be the team's main achievements; "The three consecutive FIA 2-Litre Cup titles with the Ibiza, several podiums with the C?rdoba WRC and also difficult moments are an important part of the history of a young team that arrived five years ago."

"I am very proud of all the members of the SEAT Sport team," said an emotional Aguilera, "Although they all knew of the decision to stop the World Rally programme three months ago, to their enormous create they continued working hard and remained totally dedicated.
This enthusiasm of everyone is another aspect of the team that will always be in my memory, as will the applause given to us by the other teams in the service areas."

Ex-World Champion Didier Auriol said: "SEAT is a young team that wants success. With them I've worked hard to improve the car. We achieved a fantastic result in Kenya but after that we had some problems that we only solved in the last part of the season. The enthusiasm is their best weapon and I'm sure that things in the future will go well for them."

Finnish driver Toni Gardemeister added; "I want to thank SEAT for giving me the opportunity to drive one of the two official Cordoba WRCs. I have many good memories, but the best is my third position in New Zealand last year. The team has helped me and also taken care of me, and I've enjoyed and learned a lot with them."

"The atmosphere within the team is incredible and everyone tries their best all the time to improve. I finish my relationship with SEAT very proud to have been part of the team, and I'm sure that they will succeed in their new projects," he concluded.

Rovanper? relayed similar feelings,"What can I say of the SEAT Sport team? It is like my family! I have shared many emotions with them and we have grown up together in the World Rally Championship. I have many good friends in the team and I want to keep in contact with all them. Driving for SEAT on the team's last World Rally was a very special present, allowing me to experience one last time the special atmosphere in the team. I wish them the best of luck with their new activities."

All three SEAT drivers are currently searching for a full time drive for next season.