Seat dealers have opened the order books for the BTCC inspired Leon FR550 which features a number of styling and equipment additions including bucket seats, with integrated head restraints, 18” alloy wheels, a USB connection and a FR550 tailgate badge.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit which delivers 170PS, the car is priced at £18,405 – just £400 more than the standard FR version.

Numbers will be restricted to 550 units, hence the name, and Seat is confident its dealers will benefit from the BTCC connection which saw Jason Plato secure two third places at the opening round of the championship at Brands Hatch on 30 March.