It’s been a long, long winter here at MotorMartin Towers as it always is when motorsport takes its annual hiatus over the cooler, wetter and windier months of the year. Time is filled scanning MCN for stories relating to MotoGP, WSBK and BSB, whilst the internet is called into action to find out the latest from the FIA WEC and BTCC. At least the WRC has the good sense to start as soon as possible after Christmas and doesn’t let a little snow spoil the party.
With the days being counted down before the first round of the 2017 World SBK Championship begins down under at the incredible Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 24-26 February, the following news arrived informing MotorMartin that SEAT and Dorna have signed a sponsorship agreement for the Superbike World Championship. This all means that at every round of the Championship the Leon CUPRA, the most powerful model in SEAT’s history with 300 PS, will become the official safety car of the world production motorcycle speed championship when the action starts this weekend.
The agreement means that in addition to showcasing SEAT on billboards at the circuits where the championship is being held, the sponsorship agreement also enables the Leon CUPRA to feature as a safety car at a worldwide competition for the first time ever. In this sense, the model will be on the track during the warm-up lap of every race in each category. This association will enable the Spanish brand to reach a wide audience of motoring enthusiasts who are perfectly suited to the performance characterised by the Leon CUPRA. A match made in heaven perhaps.
This competition projects core SEAT values such as “dynamism and technology” shared Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations at SEAT Sport, Antonino Labate with MotorMartin recently. “We are very pleased to partner with the Superbike championship with the Leon CUPRA as the official safety car as it gives us the ideal platform to demonstrate our model’s features and performance. We hope the fans enjoy seeing the car both on and off the track during the events,” he declares.
“We welcome the arrival of the SEAT Leon CUPRA to the Superbike World championship” adds Marc Saurina, Sales and Marketing Director of WorldSBK. “The positioning of the SEAT Leon CUPRA fully matches our championship, where fan experience is an essential part of our identity.”
SEAT have informed MotorMartin that, delivering 300 hp, the SEAT Leon CUPRA is the most powerful in the history of the Barcelona-based brand. It is also the fastest, as it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. The new model, which is set to reach dealerships in March, represents the values of the SEAT brand by combining attractive design with cutting-edge technology and MotorMartin can’t wait.
The model will be making its debut as official safety car next 24 February at Australia’s Phillip Island circuit, one of the most spectacular tracks on the world motorcycle racing scene. The championship season includes 13 races in 11 different countries on three continents.
Where will you go?