Despite paddock rumours that he could be forced to look elsewhere for a drive for the 2008 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season, SEAT Sport UK has confirmed that Darren Turner will continue to drive one of its Leons next year.

Turner, who took three wins last season and finished sixth in the standings, will again partner Jason Plato, who revealed to Crash.net on Finals Day at Thruxton that he had extended his contract for three seasons and has now been officially confirmed as returning to the BTCC for another crack at the title.

It means SEAT will head into the new season with a returning driver line-up for the first time as the team seeks to reclaim the manufacturers' title from Vauxhall and also lift the drivers' title for the first time after Jason Plato fell just short of beating Fabrizio Giovanardi
during 2007.

"In the years that SEAT Sport UK has been competing in the BTCC we've amassed a pretty impressive record of statistics, and we'll be looking to continue this form into 2008," SEAT UK motorsport manager Scott Dennis said. "For the first time we'll be looking forward to a season with complete consistency in our driver line-up and this should present a great opportunity for us to maximise not only the potential of the team, but also the SEAT Leon.

"We've got a lot of hard work to do before the season kicks-off in March but everyone within the team is ready for the challenges that lay ahead."