Jason Plato has admitted that it waꦗs a bolt from the blue to be told that SEAT is to cease its UK motorsport involvement at the end of the 2008 season.

The Spanish manufacturer announced this afternoon [Thursday] that it was to pursue 'other marketing activities' from 2009 which in turn will see its⭕ involvement in the BTCC come to an end after five years. The news will also see the SEAT Cupra Championship draw to a close after six years of competition.

The announcement leaves both Plato and team-mate Darren Turner looking for drives for 2009, with Plato one year into a three-year deal signed at the end of 2007 - a deal he revealed to mahbx.com at Thruxton last October sho🍷rtly after losing out on the drivers' title to Fabrizio Giovanardi.

While the ꦉnews has come as a shock to BTCC fans, it has come as just as much of a shock to the drivers themselve🐈s, with a meeting this morning revealing that the programme was coming to an end.

"We had a meeting this morning where we were told of the decision and it has come as a bolt from the blue," Plato told mahbx.com. "All I know is that the BTCC programme is ending for next year and the Cupra Championship has been dropped so they can focus their marketing activities elsewhere. From the meeting we had this morning, it is clear that it is a decision that they have really had to wres💯tle with.

"I'd like to think I have played a big part in their success and have been a good ambassador for the SEAT brand. However, this is a vol🍨atile world we live in - the motorsport world - and nothing is forever; things can change on a six pence, and 💛they often do.

"SEAT has had a lot of value 🐼from the UK motorsport scene, but I think it's important that people also look at the good that SEAT has done for UK motorsport through both the BTCC and t༺he Cupra Cup. But like I say, nothing ever lasts forever."

Plato, the 2001 championꦡ, goes into the final weekend of the season at Brands Hatch with an outside chance of taking a second title - although he has long admitted that his hopes of taking the crown from arch rival Giovanardi have already gone.

With that in mind, Plato had instead taken the approach of simply trying to win as many races as possible through the remainder of the campaign, and he admitted that his philoso♓phy would remain the same on Finals Day.

"It won't change my approach at Brands Hatch and I'll be going there w🐻ith the same attitude that I have always had," he said, "to go out there and fight for wins. Of course it would be nice for me personal🌄ly to end on high, but also for everyone else at Northern South and at SEAT who have worked so hard in the BTCC."

As for the future, Plato admits that his focus will be on sec🎀uring a drive somewhere for the 2009 campaign; be i💛t in the BTCC or elsewhere.

"My focus now is on getting myself in a good car for 2009," he continued. "I absolutely love the BTCC; I love the whole cut and thrust of the series but it is also no secret that I'd like to try my hand at sportscar racing wit𒁃h lots of p𒀰ower and rear-wheel drive. As they say, once a racing driver, always a racing driver.

"I was told at 11am that SEAT was pulling out, so it's onl♚y been five hours or so since being told the news, but its time to start thinking about it [the future]."