It may have been relatively short-lived, but the SEAT Cupra Championship was an incredibly influential part of the UK national racing landscape in the 2000s. Launched in 2003, before joining the BTCC's support bill in 2004, the championship was intended to help establish SEAT as a sporting brand in conjunction with its WTCC and BTCC factory efforts.
SEAT took the series very seriously, bringing a substantial trackside presence to BTCC events in this period and offering enticing prizes for the championship's winners. In the first two seasons the champion's prize was a factory drive with SEAT for the following year in the BTCC, while 2005-2008's prize was £100,000.
It's quite the contrast to today's one-make series where drivers are often lucky if they win a supply of tyres. Unsurprisingly, a whole host of talented drivers were drawn to the series. Jonny Adam, Rob Huff, Gordon Shedden, Mat Jackson, and plenty others cut their teeth in the SEAT Cupra Championship before going on to enjoy highly successful careers in the sport.
The withdrawal of SEAT UK from motorsport in the late 2000s saw the end of the series, though equivalent championships in other countries would continue for a few years after.