SPEAKER_00 0:00

Well, Dan, here we are at Brands Hatch. Sunshining Blue Sky Test Day tomorrow, which means two weeks to the start of the season. It's come round quick, hasn't it? What's happened to the winter? Well, I know what's happened to the winter for you, and congratulations on uh on the arrival of your daughter and uh uh and your family now growing. Everything looks fantastic. But that's what's been occupying you over the winter.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

It has absolutely no, it's um yeah, it's great to be back. But yeah, I've had a busy winter. Um, you know, became a dad for the first time, which is amazing. Um Libby's doing amazing, and yeah, our little girl um is yeah, she's incredible. So um yeah, it's been it's been a fun winter, a good winter. Um, lots of work obviously on the car, as as as you've seen. Um, and yeah, looking forward to hitting the track tomorrow and um seeing what we can do, as you say, at Brands Hatch in what looks to be the sunshine.

SPEAKER_00 0:49

It could be 24 degrees tomorrow, which uh is unhopped up, isn't it? Absolutely. It may be different in Donington in a couple of weeks, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Yeah, it will be, but it's um no beautiful weather, and yeah, great day for testing. Do a lot of laps and um see what we can learn.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Uh let's talk about the car first of all. Um, you've changed this saloon um shape, which looks fantastic. Um, I suspect for aero reasons, which you will will probably explain to me. Uh you've been happy with with the shakedown of the of the car and what you've been getting out of it in testing.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Yeah, very much so. Um, and you're right, yeah, aero reasons mainly. Um, you know, we identified that um, you know, we had a good car last year. We've had a good car for a few years in terms of I think the way we go around the corner, but there's no doubt that we don't feature very well in the speed traps, and we know that the hatchback was was very draggy, if not one of the most draggy on the grid. So um made the decision to try and do something about that. Um the saloon became an opportunity, and I think it's a good move. Um, is it better? It will be, I'm sure. Is it different? Yeah, but nuances are different to drive. It's not like it's a total departure, but I think that's a good thing because we had a good car. We don't need to go quick around the corner. Or it's not that's not the main aim. The main aim is to go quick in a straight line, um, and it and it will, and it does. So um hopefully we can have the best of both. Um, and it'll give us a very competitive package. Yeah, the wheelbase is the same, is that right? But the body shape is yeah, wheelbase, wheelbase is the same. Um, you know, these are actually our cars from last season. Um, they're not um they're not new cars. We didn't build new cars. I think that was a misconception. Um, so no, that's my car that finished last season. We chopped the boot off, welded some new parts in. Um, it's quite a good story, actually. I think we I think we actually went to our local Ford dealership and and ordered them. They came from Germany, which is quite weird to think you can just rock up and order a whole new section of a car, please. And they go, Yeah, sure. Um, that'll be here in a couple of weeks, and that's what we did. So um it came through the post and um and we built it. So uh so yeah, and and you're right, the car does look great. You know, the saloon package does look does look good. Um, and I'm sure when push comes to shove and we put it on, you know, line up at Donington and turn it up to 11 and see what it's got, it's gonna be uh it's gonna be better than what we had.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Which is what you were saying, you needed that straight line speed because the Hyundai's just had that edge last season, didn't they?

SPEAKER_01 3:13

Yeah, um, you know, it's there's no doubt that you know you look at the speed trap figure and the Hyundai tends to kind of dominate them. It's got a very good engine clearly, and it's slippery. Um, you know, we've got a strong engine package as well, and we were very draggy. So now we've got a hopefully a a far more slipperier car, um, and we should get a bit more of a like for like. So if we can match them in a straight line, then you know let's see what we can do about the corner bit. But um, you know, from what we've seen in testing, um, you know, they still look very good, you know. Um I think Tom Ingram's lap from Croft a few weeks ago certainly uh certainly turned a few heads, uh ours included. So um, you know, it's gonna be another close season um with lots lots lots to play for and lots to change, and I have no idea what the rules are anymore. So um I'll have to do a bit of homework on them because it seems like every year we change more and more. But um, but yeah, I'm sure it's gonna be another interesting season.

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Talking of those changes, um the biggest one, of course, is qualifying with uh free practice and then this uh this qualifying race, which determines what happens in races, well, what it one, two and three or two, three and four, depending on on your point of view for Sunday. What do you make of of that from what you know so far? I mean it's gonna it's gonna be interesting at Donnington to see how it works.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

It is, and I'm um I'm I'm on the fence a little bit. Um I've got sort of wear two hats from from a sort of uh you know, just a a fan or perspective. If I was uh no longer in as a driver, I'd say it's it's a great addition to have an extra race. Uh a bit more on a Saturday, I think, is great for the fans. Um, yeah, I think that's great. As a driver, uh, and one who is uh well, I'd like to think a very good qualifier. Um, and it's one of one of the things that I enjoy most about it, about the weekend, um, that's kind of been removed a little bit. Um, you know, we're gonna have this sort of qualifying race now that decides the grid for Sunday rather than the actual sort of qualifying lap, as it were. Um and we were good over one lap, and we had a car that was very good over one lap. So I feel like I've lost that a little bit. Same for everyone, don't get me wrong. But um, and yeah, and the fact that we can't change the car between quality and the race, I think is again as from my own personal preference. I would have I'm happy to, you know, it's great that we're doing it, but it would have been nice if we could have qualified in the fastest car we can we can and then change it to the race rather than like we can on a Sunday. But as it obviously as um as the rule suggests, we can't, you know. We quote the qualifying car we use has to be the same car we use 10 minutes later in the race, so you're kind of compromised in both actually. Um, but that's my only nickpit, it's the same for everyone. Um, and we'll see. I think um it's gonna be interesting for sure. I don't know any of us really fully know what to expect. Um, you know, race one, round one, that'll be the most equal. Um, that'll be an out and out race, and I think you'll get a sensible result. I think after that, like coming here, um, if you're anywhere near the front of the championship and then everyone behind has 20 odd seconds every lap, I just I just you could finish anywhere. I have no idea how that's gonna work. Like that's such a huge amount of time and huge amount of power deficit. Um, I understand why it's been done. I just I'm just sat here thinking, God, that could be um, you know, you could you could be very quick, but you could you could be miles back by the time, you know, you could be starting somewhere near the back in race one on Sunday. Um because that's just the disparity, you know, 20 seconds, that's a long time. There's not it's only a 46-second lap. It means you're on the you can press the button for half of it. That's um yeah. So let's see. It's new, it's the same for everyone, which is fine, and there's a lot to learn. And I think this year, one thing I really need to do, and I'm adamant to do it, and I'm supposed to be an engineer about it, is where there are loopholes, as there was last year, that we found very early on, and I was quite vocal about about it, but I didn't actually follow my own advice. So this year, if there is something that you know helps you score points, and even if it's actually a bit against the grain, I've got to take it. Is that you coming back this year a bit more wily? Yeah, I mean I've I think I think looking back, it was um you know, I think last year with a the tire rule, um, I was more vocal about it than some, but it was really hurting me. So I was I what I was you know vocal for a reason, just because I felt like I was in the wrong place every time. Um, and not really through choice, it was just the way it kind of felt. Um, you know, finishing second over a run over summer in race one really hurt me actually in terms of scoring points, whereas it historically it wouldn't have done. It'd have set me up for a great weekend, but that was just the way the rules were now. Um and it was obvious that if you could finish fourth in race one, you might actually have a score more points, and we didn't do that, you know. We it felt unnatural and it didn't feel like me to to kind of try and throw back podiums and races. So but but could we have scored more points? Yeah, definitely if we'd have done it another way. So um I think it comes down to look the rules are the rules, you've got to follow them, and uh equally we've got to exploit them as best we can, like others did, um, even if it feels a bit unnatural at times.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Yes, I see where you're coming from. Uh we spoke at length last season, and uh particularly when you know you'd had some amazing performances, quick laps, great racing, uh, and and you were on a high coming down off the podium. We also spoke, to your credit, you you never um turned me away when things didn't go so well. Uh and throughout the season, there was just enough that didn't go so well to stop you being in with that final shout here at at Brands at the at the end of the year. Is that going to be different this year? Is this the year that is your honestly 100% chance to get your hands on that trophy?

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Um yeah, I think it's gotta be in in some ways. Um you know, I think you're right. I've I've had there's been it's been one too many things have crept in um on my side, on the team's side, um, over these past few seasons that have hemorrhaged us points in pivotal moments and detached me from the lead group um or detached me from Ash and Tom effectively. Um, and once I'm in that position, you know, it's only natural that you sort of slotted into that de facto number two to try and help um Ash for the title, you know. But we have every opportunity to avert that, but you've got to be close enough and you've got to be in the fight to make sure that's not an option. Um, and I've that's what you know this season 100% I want to be. I want to be in with a chance at the end of being champion uh when we come here uh again in October. Um, and the way to do that is to avoid unnecessary mistakes, avoid unnecessary problems and issues that can arise. You know, it's a pressure sport, there's a lot that goes into it from a team side and a driver's side. Um, and we need to be perfect because my competitors are um, you know, Ash has got a great team around him who are very clinical and methodical. Um, and I'm sure Tom Ingram has the same, and he won't be the only one in the paddock. Um, but you know, I've had one too many tire failures, uh one too many hiccups, and fair to say, one too many driver uh errors as well these last couple of years. Um that's not me really, um, but it's crept in for some reason. I think um love to pinpoint it, but I think the long and sort of long and short of it is is you know, these last four years actually have been quite tough at times, and I've had to really drag everything I can out of it to get back to where I think I deserve to be and should be. Um but it's taken a lot to do that. Um that you know, I think it's fair to say I can't go into too much of it, but it but it has taken a lot to get back to that point. Um, you know, and last year was we finished third, the highest we finished. I've never finished lower than the year before, um, and I don't intend to start now. So on that basis, you know, I think we've got a very good chance. And I'm sure that if we all fire on all cylinders, I do my bit to the best of my ability, um, and the team does theirs, um, then we'll be in with a shout. Um yeah, and I don't think there's any more excuses and there shouldn't be any more excuses. You know, I I've you know I've been the nearly man one too many times, and I think in some ways I want to, you know, I just said next door actually that you said what's your what's your tagline? And I said, I want to I want to rewrite the um rewrite the narrative. The narrative's become that you know there's two guys that are much better, and I don't believe that. I just you know, I think I want to um I think there's other guys that that are that are just as good. Um and I think I'm one of them. It's just a matter of unlocking it um and getting to that point where you can exploit it week after week, like they've been able to do, you know. I think a lot of drivers have their moments, but they just don't have enough. So if we can get to that point um more regularly, I think we'll feature them more.

SPEAKER_00 12:09

I think it's gonna be an amazing season, and I will keep my fingers crossed for you for this year. I'm sure we'll chat numerous times throughout the year. Well, it's either gone very well or very badly. So yeah, it's um no, it's as I said, I'm always very grateful because no matter how it's gone, you always make time for me, which I always appreciate, particularly when uh when you want to throw things out of the way. Let's make a problem.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

I'll start to make sure it goes well.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

Um, just before we finish, as you know, we have a bit of fun at this time of the year. This year, um, the questions are nothing to do with the BTCC as always, but it's the highway code. So pick a number one, two, or three. Um one sure. 40 miles an hour. What does the highway code suggest is the stopping distance in either metres, feet, or car lengths? I won't have a clue actually stopping distances.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

Um 40 miles an hour. Is it fift uh 40 metres?

SPEAKER_00 13:06

You're very close, 36. Ah, so you've you've heard on the right side, at least one of the drivers said 10 metres. So that's their judgment. Yeah. Oh, isn't it? It might be in a British touring car. Yeah, yes, quite nine car lengths apparently. Um now, two uh we'll do one more, two or three. Three. This is the one that is catching everybody out. You've had to pull over onto an emergency refuge area, an ERA. Um, having sorted out whatever it is, the reason you pulled over, you now wish to rejoin the carriageway. What does Rule 278 say that you have to do? Is it put on your hazard lights, put on your headlights, use the emergency phone, or put your arm out of the window to indicate that you're slowly rejoining the carriageway?

SPEAKER_01 13:50

Wow, yeah. Absolutely not a clue. Um, can you do all four?

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Well, yes, you you you could do whichever you like, of course, but rule 278 is quite specific.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

Um I mean, that's a weird fourth option you've given me. I'm wondering if it's that weird that it's actually true. Uh, but no, I won't go with that. I will say now indicate.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

No, funnily enough, um, it is that you need to use the emergency phone and inform the operator that you've used the emergency area, and based on the information you give them, they will advise you how to rejoin the carriageway. And that might include holding up the traffic so that you can rejoin it safely. So the answer is to use the emergency phone. There's only one person that's right, and it is your teammate.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yeah, well, there we go. I mean, it crossed my mind actually, but not for that reason. I was thinking more to let them know that the problem's gone away and you can rejoin safely.

SPEAKER_00 14:46

But anyway, anyway, you won't have that problem because you're not going to be in the emergency area and you're not going to be bringing the operators to get back on the circuit this season. Clearly not. Dan, have a fantastic day. Thank you very much. Thanks.