|
Jonathan confirmed as 2008 Cupra Champion
Jonathan has been confirmed as the 2008 SEAT Cupra
champion, and in doing so the 23-year old driver from Kirkcaldy in Scotland
becomes the only back-to-back champion in the six-year history of the
series. Jonathan has also claimed the mantle of the most successful SEAT
Cupra Championship drivers of all time, and along with two titles can
boast an unequalled 20 race wins and 39 podium finishes from 58 starts.
Having finished third on his first appearance in the series in 2006, Adam
won the SEAT Cupra title in 2007 and this year recovered from a relatively
slow start to win nine races, score 14 podium results and set seven fastest
lap times (for which an extra bonus point was awarded each time) in his
Total Control Racing Leon Cupra. As champion, Jonathan wins a fully-funded
one-off race weekend drive in a SEAT Leon (the exact race meeting is yet
to be confirmed), plus a new SEAT Leon FR road car.
Jonathan provisionally crowned Cupra champion
Two podium finishes in the last two rounds at Brands,
saw Jonathan provisionally crowned Cupra champion. Jonathan now has to
wait on the outcome of an appeal by Lawson against his penalty at Silverstone.
Mixed weekend at Silverstone
Jonathan endured a mixed weekend at Silverstone,
having qualified on pole position for the first race, he had a coming
together with Robert at the start of the race resulting in a puncture
for Jonathan which meant he had to pit which meant no chance of a decent
points haul in the first race, he came back out to finish in 13th place.
For the second race, Jonathan again qualified in pole, having started
well, he slid wide and ended up on the grass, returning to the track in
5th position, however, a determined drive saw Jonathan catch and pass
everyone to claim a stunning victory in very difficult conditions. Despite
his setback in the first race, Jonathan may enter the final two races
in the lead of the championship due to Lawson getting a 25 point deduction
as a result of a technical infringement in qualifying, this decision is
still under appeal, so the championship is going go down to final two
races with everything to play for between Jonathan and Lawson.
Double victory at Knockhill
Another commanding performance at his home track,
led to two victories for Jonathan at Knockhill. Backed by a large home
support Jonathan qualified on pole for both races and was never headed
in either race, claiming fastest laps in both races to complete a perfect
weekend. Jonathan is now hard on the heels of championship leader Robert
Lawson and is looking to close the gap further in the next rounds at Silverstone
Perfect weekend for Jonathan at Oulton Park
Jonathan closed the gap on championship rival Robert
Lawson, with two wins and two fastest laps at Oulton Park, he also broke
his lap record from last year to round off a perfect weekend. Jonathan
now looks forward to the next race weekend at his home circuit Knockhill,
where he hopes to gain more ground in his quest to win the championship
again this year.
Two wins for Jonathan at Snetterton
Despite being involved in an accident in the first
race at Snetterton, Jonathan was able to carry on to finish in the point
in fifth place. In the second race, Jonathan qualified in pole position,
and despite a brave effort by Lawson and Breeze to pass him on the first
lap, he was able to hold the lead and finish in first place. The third
race at Snetterton was a result of the cancelled race at the last meeting
at Croft, again Jonathan started on pole and lead from the start to win
comfortably. The results at Snetterton have catapulted Jonathan back into
the championship race and he is now joint second only 36 points behind
championship leader Lawson.
Winning return in the Clio Cup
Jonathan made a sensational one-off guest appearance
in the Clio Cup in the Renault World Series at Silverstone, he showed
his class by winning the first race and coming a close second to current
championship leader Ben Winrow in the second race.
Podium finish at Croft
Jonathan finished in third place in the only race
to take at Croft. Due to the heavy rainfall during the day the second
race was cancelled, which was disappointing for Jonathan as he had qualified
on pole for the second race, however, the qualifying results will stand
when the race is rerun later in the year.
Double victory at Thruxton
Jonathan kicked started his season with a double
victory at Thruxton. Having started on pole, Jonathan managed to fend
of a determined start from Daniel Welch, to lead from start to finish
in the first race. Despite starting from fourth on the grid, Jonathan
managed to take the lead through the first complex and never looked back
to win comfortably in the second race.
Bad weekend for Jonathan at Donington
Hoping to kick start his season, Jonathan was disappointed
with his weekend at Donington, having struggled with his car all weekend,
he could only manage a lowly 7th place finish in the first race, in the
second race he was again struggling and had a coming together with another
car which resulted in Jonathan ending up in the gravel ending his race
prematurely. The team are going to strip down the car to investigate what
the problem was.
BRDC Superstars
Jonathan is delighted to be chosen to participate
in the BRDC Superstars scheme, the aim of the scheme is to develop the
cream of young British talent. The 12 drivers chosen will be directed
by BRDC member and former British Touring Car champion, Tim Harvey.
2008 Seat Cupra Championship
Jonathan has managed to finalise his funding to
enable him to defend his title in the 2008 Seat Cupra Championship. |