In only its third season of competition, SEAT Sport UK is one of the youngest teams in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – yet with Jason Plato and James Thompson in its two-car team, it will have by far the most experienced driver line-up on the 2006 grid.

Since the current 2-litre only era was introduced in 1991, Jason and James have collectively made 437 BTCC starts, won 55 races, clinched three Drivers’ titles and scored 3,161 points.

Out of his 251 starts, James has won 30 races and scored 1,778 points. He’s contested the series every year bar last year (when he competed in the 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship) since 1994 and won the Drivers’ title in 2002 and 2004.

Out of his 186 starts, Jason has won 25 races and scored 1,383 points. He made his BTCC debut in 1997, won the Drivers’ title in 2001 and missed the 2002 and 2003 seasons before returning with SEAT in 2004.

SEAT Sport UK will bring a brand new car to the BTCC in 2006 – with its exciting Leon making its British competition debut at the opening race weekend at Brands Hatch (April 8/9).

Jason will drive in all 30 races (10 race weekends), James will drive in 18 races (six race weekends) which don’t clash with his FIA World Touring Car Championship commitments, while Darren Turner will drive in the remaining 12 races (four race weekends).

While his team-mates have the most BTCC experience, Darren will be making his BTCC debut in 2006. The winner of the 1996 BRDC/McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award, Darren has raced rear-wheel drive cars all his career in major events like the FIA GT Championship, the DTM, British Formula 3, Formula Palmer Audi and in endurance races at Le Mans, Sebring and the Nurburgring 1000kms. He also has a great deal of Formula 1 experience, having been part of the McLaren test team since 1999. He has never raced a front-wheel drive car before and Darren will make his BTCC debut with SEAT Sport UK at Thruxton (June 4).