Taking place at the UK’s fastest race track, Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire, the seventh and eighth rounds of the SEAT campaign offer a great opportunity for the 19-year-old Northern Ireland racer to continue his terrific form and add to his recent success.

Having produced his best ever qualifying performance at the wheel of his 300bhp, Brian Herron Contracts backed SEAT Leon Cupra at Donington Park nine days ago to secure a place on the front row for round six – just five 1,000ths of a second shy of a debut pole position – Andrew went on to claim his first ever podium in the series with a superb drive.

Hopeful his season has turned a corner, the Dromore based JHR Developments racer has proven he has the pace to challenge at the front in the championship and is now achieving the results his pre-season form always suggested would be possible.

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Remember, this year’s action is only Andrew’s second in cars and having already claimed his maiden SEAT podium he is now focused on more rostrum finishes and is bidding to challenge for his first victory in the prestigious series which supports the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

“I’m really confident ahead of Thruxton”, said the teenager. “It’s a great track, incredibly fast, and somewhere I enjoy racing at. After taking my first podium in SEAT at Donington with third position in the second race, I’m hungry for more and hopeful we’ll be able to go at least one step, and hopefully two, higher on the rostrum.”

During recent testing at Thruxton, Andrew was very quick and, importantly, produced lap-by-lap race simulation pace which was quicker than that of team-mate and current series leader, Robert Lawson and fellow front-runner, 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion, Martin Byford.

“Our pace was excellent in the test so I’m confident we’ll have a good car, good set-up and a great chance to do well at Thruxton”, added Andrew, “Donington really was the true start of the season for us after some bad luck at the first two events so I’m confident now we’ll be consistent podium challengers for the rest of the year.”

Qualifying for round seven of the SEAT Cupra Championship is set to take place at 10.45am on Saturday with the round eight session expected to begin at 14.40.

On raceday, Sunday, round seven is scheduled to start at 12.15 with round eight following at approximately 17.30 – racing in its regular support slot on the BTCC package, there is potential for one of the SEAT races to be screened live on Freeview, digital satellite and cable channel ITV4.

Provisional 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship Driver Standings (after Rd6): 1st Robert Lawson, 111pts; 2nd Martin Byford, 93pts; 7th Andrew Herron, 49pts