SPEAKER_02 0:00

I don't think the racing is like this anywhere else in the world. You basically have to learn how to go forward and backwards at the same time. You have to split your vision between the rear view mirror and where you're going and still be at your absolute peak.

SPEAKER_04 0:10

A certain Lando Norris, and you're in a title contention with him. Talk us through that and how intense that was.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Slight slide through the old hairpin. If it wasn't for that, we'd have qualified third. Would have, should've, could have.

SPEAKER_03 0:21

I've had a massive crash um in carton and broke five rears, my shoulder, my back, ruptured my lung, had internal bleeding. Did I say a shoulder? I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 0:29

Yeah, but you've got two, so. You obviously won formula forward.

SPEAKER_03 0:32

Absolutely dominated it as well, because that was the year after. How many race wins? Like out of the 30 races, I think you won. 24. Really?

SPEAKER_04 0:40

24 wins.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

Mate, how lucky are me and Lando that we went up against this guy? Disappointing 17 to be hard drive faster. Yeah, honestly, these guys.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

You don't even know your headlights are flashing until you sign on Facebook. Nah, do you know what's too?

SPEAKER_03 0:53

So if you have a hatchback car, would that be slower in a straight line than a saloon car? If it was doing the same speed.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

If it was it was the same speed at the end.

SPEAKER_04 1:02

A bittersweet moment getting it like two weeks after, or is it kind of frustrating when you don't get your trophy on the actual day?

SPEAKER_00 1:11

I've had much more frustrating things happen.

SPEAKER_04 1:24

Hi everyone, welcome to the third BTCC podcast. Um, as per the previous one, we're joined by three random drivers. We probably should have thought it through because our our pre-chat has uh led to some pretty big carnage already. But we're here with Aidan Moffat, Ricky Collard, and Dan Kamis. How are we doing, gents?

SPEAKER_02 1:42

All good, my end. How are you guys?

SPEAKER_03 1:45

Yeah. Yeah. What I do with my hands.

SPEAKER_04 1:50

Because this thing's heavy. Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:52

Why are these so heavy?

SPEAKER_04 1:53

We're gonna look at um I've I've picked out a previous season. Before we talk about touring cars and looking at um how things are going this season already. I'm looking at previous seasons in your career. Start with you, mate. Do you know the only podium trophy I've ever given out was your very first one. If you remember it, do you think?

SPEAKER_00 2:11

That's because it was given to me at Rockingham, was it that? It was actually from Not Kill.

SPEAKER_04 2:15

Yeah, reminder, reminder. So you got the podium at Nock Hill, but you didn't receive the trophy until.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Well, because um Andy Prio pushed me wide under a yellow flag. Dirty, dirty driver. No, I was we came over there in Duffy, and it was kind of a bit blind, so I got a nudge wide. So I finished fourth on the road, but then after that I got reviewed and I got the third place trophy, so it was my first podium. Great story, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 2:40

A bittersweet moment getting it like two weeks after, or is it kind of frustrating when you don't get your trophy on the actual day?

SPEAKER_00 2:46

I mean, I I think if that was my biggest issue since then, I've had much more frustrating things happen, like four years of being crap, so uh yeah, it's not that bad.

SPEAKER_04 3:00

Fair enough. And how about your debut as well? Oh, my debut was incredible. Um talk to us about it, what then?

SPEAKER_02 3:06

I'd like to say also, if that's the only time, what did what did you do wrong? Because surely you should have been asked again since that.

SPEAKER_04 3:12

I think I'm too lazy to actually go anywhere near the podium after a race. Yeah, same, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00 3:18

That's the reason.

SPEAKER_04 3:19

I have now been dragged towards the park firme job, but not too often am I at the podium. But um, yeah, Ricky.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

I would just like to say it peaked for me, because after that, when you were in hand and a member for what actually is the point? That's probably why it was all downhill from that point. I swear I don't get much podiums these days.

SPEAKER_04 3:37

It was a lovely moment.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

It's took the edge off it for me, actually.

SPEAKER_04 3:40

Lovely. Ricky, um, we're gonna look at your F4 season. Now, a lot of people should know this, but a certain Lando Norris and you're in a title contention with him. Talk us through that and how intense that was. Was that your first kind of big title challenge in in car racing?

SPEAKER_03 3:57

Well, yeah, it was my first full season really in car racing. So yeah, it was um it's quite cool when you go through carton racing against like all these people, and then you get the opportunity then to jump in the cars. I had a massive crash um in carton and broke five rears, my shoulder, my back, ruptured my lung, had internal bleeding, shoulder, did I say shoulder? I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Yeah, but you've got two, so oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:20

I've broken both of them, but this was in a separate crash, collarbone. Um, and yeah, so I was then like in a life support machine, didn't think I'd ever come back to race. Then came back, um, done a bit of Formula Ford and then done F4 and come second in the championship to that guy. But apparently I beat him more than anybody else did in uh cars, so I'll take that.

SPEAKER_04 4:41

Did you know at the time? Obviously, he was a talented lad, but would you have been surprised if you were told at that moment he was gonna go on to be F1 world champion?

SPEAKER_03 4:49

Not really, man. He was um he was he was pretty damn good. But I led the season for the majority of the year and then got taken out by another uh another guy.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Um you can name names.

SPEAKER_03 5:03

Yeah, Dan TikTom just wiped me out, wiped me out behind the Sety Carl, which is really cool. Um and yeah. What's your thoughts on him? Yeah, just an absolute yeah, tool, really, to be honest, but I won't go into too much detail.

SPEAKER_04 5:17

I did um see that Dan, I think he had four disqualifications in that season, um, which is which is nice. Yeah. I had to find Dan Tictim once in Macau for a completely separate matter, which we won't talk about. But anyway. Can we talk about this? No, we can't, we can't. He was late to something, but he had to get fined. I won't go into it. Where did you find him? Great lad, great lad. Um, we're moving on to you, Dan. Uh I looked out your first. You you obviously won Formula Ford. Uh British Walmart.

SPEAKER_03 5:45

I absolutely dominated it as well, because that was the year after. How many race wins? It's like out of the 30 races, I think you won. 24. Really?

SPEAKER_02 5:54

24 wins.

SPEAKER_03 5:55

Mate, how lucky are me and Lando that we weren't up against a school?

SPEAKER_02 5:58

Not so sure about that. Yeah, 2024 that year. But I only only did 24 races as well, so I actually won every one that year.

SPEAKER_04 6:04

I noticed you didn't do brands for was that commercial reasons or something. Someone else a chance to win.

SPEAKER_02 6:10

Yeah, it was just um we got to the point where it was like, is this actually helping me anymore? It clearly wasn't. It was better to get out and look to do something different.

SPEAKER_04 6:18

And I looked at the the first season, you did a scholarship, you won the scholarship class at that point. A certain James Cole won the title. And um, as we're on Indie 500 week, Jay Joseph Newgarden was second. So it was pretty stacked back then, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_02 6:30

It was, it was a good championship, it really was. Um yeah, it was it was a good good year, and I had a I had a great year, really. When I look back, I really it's a shame. Um, because I had such a good start, and I didn't really get the help and recognition I probably needed at that time to help my career move forward, which I think is probably why when people talk to me now, sometimes I get little time with a bit of a chip, and I think that's probably why. Because when I started to do well later on, it it was kind of too late. I need I I was already probably aged out a little bit by that point. Um, back then I was probably still young enough to have a bit of a chance. Um, but yeah, Joseph Newgarden, I mean I qualified second. It's my first I still had a novice cross on the back. Um, and Dewgarden was third, and I finished third on the podium. Um, and I was on pole at the next race. So basically I had poll within my first two races in cars. Um, James Cole went on to win in Newgarden, I don't know what happened to him. Um, but I think he's doing all right somewhere across the pond these days. So uh yeah, it was a good it was a good year.

SPEAKER_04 7:30

I do like to tell James Cole, who is our driving standards officer, if that's his title, how the lives have changed with Newgarden having won a couple of indie 500s and a fair few million dollars. Um, do you have that chip on your shoulder sometimes?

SPEAKER_02 7:45

Look, if someone said would I rather be sat here, then of course I would. You know, we want to miss out on this. And the excitement we've had. Um, I mean, like it it things go different ways. As as Ricky just said, you know, Lando's former world champion. You take your opportunities and you do the best job you possibly can. Um there's things we we all know, there's things we can talk about, there's things that we can't, but ultimately I know that I made the best of my career from where I started and from what I had behind me to do it. Um, I didn't think I'd have one touring car race, let alone have won 16 and multiple podiums or 60 odd podiums, I think, by now. Like so, in some ways, I'm very lucky to get to do to do that. So um I think in in any sport, there's all you can always look at you always look at someone who's who's doing done differently or better. Um, I spent a lot of time around sort of the Formula E paddocks with my my wife that works in, used to work in that, and they all wish they were Formula One drivers. Like everyone's got a story to tell. Um, and ultimately we're all sportsmen, so we're never quite satisfied anyway with where where we got to. So yeah, try and um try and enjoy enjoy it for what it is, and that's what I'm certainly trying to do.

SPEAKER_04 8:53

So you guys were going down the single seat originally. Aidan, was it always touring car focused for you? Because you pretty much started in with Tin Tops, didn't you?

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Yeah, I never even knew what a touring car was, to be honest with you. I just uh buying a racing stock cars, I just do racing for a laugh. Are you still the youngest ever touring car driver? 16 and something like I came home from school.

SPEAKER_03 9:18

It's basically the Verstappen of Antonelli or whatever. Antonelli's done a bit in a Former One better version of Verstappen. It's just Scotland's version of uh good trucks.

SPEAKER_00 9:31

No, I mean for me it's just a hobby. I mean, it's I never really knew much about racing. I enjoyed going racing with my old man doing stock cars. I was at school and someone messaged asking if I would have shot of a touring car. So spoke to my dad before there'll be a laugh, don't know what it is, but it sounds like a good crack. Then showed up to knock kill and thought, oh, it turns out this is quite a big deal, is it? So um and we've done touring cars ever since. So yeah, I think it I think it's quite difficult up in Scotland. I don't think there's it's as easy to make a career out of racing. You know, when you're down here, there's a lot more tracks, a lot more people onto a lot more connections to make, going through coaching, um meeting people, you know. If you're up in Scotland, by the time you drive down and do everything, uh a hotel and whatnot, there's not like a wage uh in coaching, which is sometimes a good place to start making um connections and whatnot. So I I think it's uh difficult, um or certainly harder. I mean, there's a lot of successful people out there, of course there is from Scotland that I've done very well, but um I I do think on the whole it can make it a bit harder. So for us, I'd yeah, just do skips. I've spent the whole morning rather than looking at the data, I've been trying to buy a skip truck. So um we had an auction the other day, actually. I should have messaged you. I said to see a nice volvo with boat and skip gear, dude. Yeah, nice, nice uh tons and bodies on it, you know what I mean. But anyway, yeah, so that's I mean for me I'm just lucky to do it. We got great sponsors, we've had great sponsors for the last 13 years, and I can keep doing it and having fun. And yeah, I mean you obviously want to make a career out of it, you want to do well, but for me, if my business is my number one thing, and if that means I can keep going racing and having fun, then it's a good life to live, and a life a lot of people would love to live. So, yeah, that's that's how we how we treat it, and uh it's worked all right so far, so long may that continue.

SPEAKER_04 11:24

And for a man who um you are a bit nonchalant about this career of yours, and and as you say, you did touring cars once and you've been here ever since, so you must like it in some way. And going on to this season, you you look like a pretty happy guy in the new surroundings that you've got.

SPEAKER_00 11:37

Yeah, it's good. I think it's quite nice this year as well, maybe not having people that you fall back on as such, you know. I've been teammates with Jake who knew the BMW so well, been teammates with Josh going into the Honda initially and uh been carrying a lot of things over to Toyota and Ash in the past. I think this year, a new car and everything. Um to kind of go in with things that I've done with other teams and have to try and lead things I want to try more. I have to kind of speak out and uh and push for something because you can't fall back, and I think it brings out the best in you to a degree, you know. There's I mean Mikey and Dexter are extremely quick, and with Dexter's I don't I don't think people have seen Dexter's true potential until this year because he's been very unlucky with the cars. The Cooper has always struggled. He jumped in the infinity when we took an extremely fast car and made it extremely not very fast. Um so yeah, I think I think you know having that there as well, but then there's that doesn't bring the experience of how to develop a car. Um Mikey's obviously of extremely quick, always been with Power Max. So for me, it's been nice to come to such a family team, but also a team where I can push for things, kind of be listened to, and and uh some things are working well, and it's quite a rewarding feeling that brings the best out in yourself. So yeah, I'm enjoying it this year, just having fun, and when you feel good, you drive better when you're in a good headspace, and that's pretty much where I am right now.

SPEAKER_04 13:07

That's great, mate. And and Ricky, welcome back. Obviously, it was a very late deal for yourself coming back to the grid. Delighted to have you. Uh the pace was never in doubt, but we definitely feel like there's a well, I don't know if the word mature is better, judging by the conversations we had earlier. Definitely not mature, but there is a word I know. A more refined Ricky Collard. Mature. A more refined Ricky Collard behind the wheel this year.

SPEAKER_03 13:35

To be honest, I think um the package is just really good. The package is working really, really well.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Um the setup and the team around the whole the whole package.

SPEAKER_03 13:52

The whole package. Not the package, not the package. No. I'm sure that's a good one.

SPEAKER_02 14:01

BTCC after that.

SPEAKER_03 14:08

I'm just trying to he's actually worse than us, isn't it? But yeah, the the package is uh just top-notch at the moment. And um But your results. Sorry, let's go again. So yeah, the the the the There is no Jim Offers. The uh yeah, the the whole team, everything that the guys and girls are putting in, it's just working really well. And you know, I j have had a podium or race win in every single championship I've competed in, except touring cars, it's just one of the hardest things in the world. And I don't think people really give it it's a lot of credit in the UK, but outside the UK, obviously when I was a BW driver with um with BMW factory teams driving in in the M6 or the M4 around the whole world, and I'd say to people, guys, you've got to see just how special this championship is. Um, and it you know what, it kind of really upsets me that there isn't the big manufacturers um investing in this championship. We don't even run the Hyundai badge on the front of the race car because they're not giving giving us any money at the moment or any support.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Probably would have blew off of a straight line speed whenever that's pretty good.

SPEAKER_03 15:23

Yeah, they're not even paying for the headlights or anything, you know what I mean? So but no, it there should be more um look it's there's a lot of publicity around it and there's a lot of respect for it, but it is genuinely the hardest championship I've done in the world. You've raced all around the world as well, and I think you definitely echo what I'm saying by it is so, so, so competitive. And I want to see more manufacturers inside this championship, as I'm sure everybody wants to. And um, I think Alan Gale's doing a fantastic job. Um, and everyone in the the toker organization is, but it's just we want to see these big manufacturers come back into this championship because you can go and sponsor a Formula One car, which doesn't really pay much sort of overlap to these cars that we're driving. The cars that we're driving genuinely look like the cars that you're driving on the road.

SPEAKER_04 16:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:10

Um, especially that chavved out focus that he drives around in, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_04 16:14

No, but you you do make a good point, and I think when you see any manufacturer or sponsor get involved, they all they'll almost they're hooked almost immediately and can't believe, I suppose, yes, it's still a lot of money, but where the money can go in touring cars compared to what that would get you in Formula One is obviously a drop in the ocean, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 16:31

Yeah, I did it even when I was with BNW, I remember filling in for my dad for a few races, and I was still currently at that time a BNW junior driver. Um, and I remember sort of sitting down, Charlie Lamb from Schnitzer obviously unfortunately passed away, so God bless him. He tried and everything he could to be involved in British terrain cars more. Um, and when I'd done my stint in British terrain cars, he was always asking me and giving me advice and helping me out, and you know, I think ultimately that's what helped me then jump in and straight away be on the pace and get a podium. Um, but yeah, no, I just I want to see more manufacturers in this championship, and these are some of the best drivers in the world. Um, and I do feel like there should be more support from manufacturers in this and sponsors and stuff, it's it's insane. This has got to be one of the biggest forms of motorsport in the UK. Look at the size of the crowds, we're pulling in 50, 60,000 people, and you know, Aiden still drives a skip lorry, and so do I. I'm drive, I I'm driving uh diggers in a quarry in the yard. So look, and it there needs to be yeah, just needs to be some more sport because you know, as everyone is aware, I'm only doing the first half of the season. I've only got this and one more to go. And if I can't find the sponsorship, I'm not gonna be driving. It's that simple. And um, yeah, second I was second in the championship, and potentially this could be me out after um two two more weekends.

SPEAKER_04 17:52

Well, let's uh hope that's not the case, mate. Um, moving on to you, Dan. Uh how many seasons is this for Napa? Five. The fifth season. Fifth season, yeah. Apologies about the end of that, it's just got missed. Um in your own words, how has the start gone to this campaign?

SPEAKER_02 18:09

Um not not swimmingly. Kind of set out hoping to have a season where I could look back and say that we did everything we could and we didn't make mistakes, certainly simple, easy mistakes that can be made. And I think I made a mistake every mistake going so far. Um echoing what Ricky just said, I think this is one of the hardest championships in the world. Um and not always for the simple reasons. Uh yeah, the the competition is very high, the teams are very good, but it's designed to trip you up. Like it actually is. Um it's you need a lot of luck, you need a lot of things to go your way, and the racing is incredibly tough. I don't think the racing is like this anywhere else in the world. You basically have to learn how to go forward and backwards at the same time. Um you have to split your vision between the rear view mirror and where you're going and still be at your absolute peak. Um it's frantic, um, three races in a day, four now over the weekend, um, you pull from pillar to post, it's exhausting. It's it's a whirlwind, I think. When people come in, and I've got a new teammate this year in Lewis Selby, who, like everyone, you see it from the outside and you think, yeah, I fancy a bit of that. But it's only when you do it that you know, even now, he's a very competent driver, but he said I just didn't quite expect what it's like. It's it's so fun. Um, and it is it's a very, very tough championship. But yeah, my season, we got a very fast car. I still hope a fast driver, but um made a fair few mistakes. And it's difficult when I've got a teammate who's having probably the best start to his season that he's ever had. So I you know, I'm I don't um hide behind it. I think I've got I've got to do better, I've got to find a way to get out of this funk. I'm in a little bit and um and pull the results. I did it here last year and I'm aiming to do it here again. So we come here with a fair amount of boost. Let's see if we can put it to good use.

SPEAKER_04 19:55

Are you being harsh on yourself, as I know you sometimes are, which is uh you know your own uh worst critic, but uh you're saying you've made mistakes, which I know uh every driver probably makes mistakes in every single session, but are you being harsh on yourself and things just haven't gone in the way?

SPEAKER_02 20:09

Yeah, I mean 50-50, isn't it? I think sometimes you make your own luck sometimes, and I've I've made bad choices and just got involved in things that you I didn't need to. Um, and as a team, we we could have done slightly different things at certain times. Don't get me wrong, I'm comparing myself against someone who's having basically a a straight. He hadn't finished lower than second yet, has he? I don't think so. So my my bar is up here somewhere, don't get me wrong. Um but I think the fact I'm still fifth overall and I'm only a few points behind third kind of shows like that. I think there's a lot of us that touring cars, it does trip you up. And we do have good days, bad days, good races, bad races. It's very hard to put consecutive races together all the time. Seems to me there's a couple of guys that have sort of figured that out how to do it, and they've obviously set the benchmark in recent years. Um trying to understand how to do that is is difficult. Um, continue to try. Um, but yeah, it's a long season. That's that's nice, long way to go. Feel in a good place. I think we've got a very good package, as Ricky would say. And um it's gonna be very close, I think.

SPEAKER_04 21:13

You know, between you've got to find a better package than Ricky.

SPEAKER_02 21:16

I just look down there. How did I do that before? I actually did. Certainly it's certainly comparable. Wow, don't call and tripod for nothing. I think I think it's very close. I think it's very close. I think we've taken a step forward. No one stands still on this grid though. Um and it looks looks close, doesn't it? You know, ultimately. So yeah, I think we can I think the fans are in for a treat as the season goes on. I think it'll only get it'll only get better. Um the racing will get tougher, more fierce, and um and hopefully that'll be more enjoyable for the fans.

SPEAKER_04 21:50

I mean Dan said they're designed to trip you up. Um yes, Ash has had a great season, but that hasn't so far, but that hasn't actually it doesn't hold the story of the actual racing has been so close. Throughout the field.

SPEAKER_00 22:02

If I was Alan Gow, I would definitely slow the focus down to make it more interesting.

SPEAKER_03 22:06

Yeah, I reckon I reckon that that focus is too quick.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

But probably just all four though, probably. Keep it even because you can't just do one.

SPEAKER_03 22:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Lewis seems like a nice guy, actually.

SPEAKER_04 22:17

Saturdays, Aiden. Talk to me. They have changed completely. It looks like we've added another level of stress to everyone's weekend with the um qualifying race. The guys that we spoke to pre-season, we were kind of um in an R in as in is this going to be a really exciting race or will people settle for position because it's not massive points? But I think we've proven, or you or you guys have proven pretty much straight away, it's just another touring car race, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 22:41

I think it's good fun actually. I mean, I've never been good at qualifying, so I quite like it. Um ironically, it didn't suit us at Brand's hatch because we were third in the championship with um with no boosts. So that was horrible. Um I think if you if you get stuck in a certain situation in the races where you've got limited boosts, the people around you have got lots of boosts. Because it's Saturday, you have it every lap, it's bloody soul destroying. Um, but it's good fun, it creates more racing, it's great for the fans, it's more reason to come along on a Saturday and make it more of a weekend event. Um so I think it's a positive. Uh the racing, it's good hard racing. I think it's had the opposite effect where you think people would take it easy. I think because it's the third session, people treat it as a Sunday race free, it's actually quite rough. But it's almost like because there's not as much on the table. Sometimes you're having a battle with someone, and it's you find yourself just enjoying it kind of thing, because it's not maximum points on the table, and it's not the end of your weekend, there's still a full race day to go. You actually sometimes just enjoy, and it kind of feels like you're having a crack with your mates just racing around. It actually can be quite fun, I I've found personally. So no, I think it's quite cool.

SPEAKER_04 23:56

Bigger crowds, um yeah, excitement levels seem to be pretty huge, but uh yes, it is only half points, but as I've said to the guys now, it's still pretty significant, eh? When we're talking about a championship that can come down to the odd point, there's a hundred points on offer across the season. Um, we've certainly seen people absolutely going for it, haven't we, on Saturdays?

SPEAKER_03 24:17

Yeah, I think your teammate went for it pretty hard actually.

SPEAKER_02 24:20

I was wondering, yeah, I was wondering where that was going. Uh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 24:25

Well, I guess it was a good advert to see Tom and Ash get into each other on lap one of the first ever one, I suppose, is a pretty good advert for it.

SPEAKER_02 24:33

I would have preferred not to. Um when I saw Ash facing me at the turn one, I thought this ain't good. Um, like like um Aiden just said, it is it is great. I think it's everything Aiden just said holds true. I think it's I think it's good for the championship. And it is another race, and you can't take that out of any driver. When the lights go out, I don't think we're thinking about anything other than this is this is a race for position, and we want to be as high as we can. You're right about the points, they're gonna be valuable. Um for me, it's all it's all a positive. The only downside is because it's another race, there's more damage, and and that's unavoidable. Um, we saw it at Browns for no fault of anyone. I think you know turn two is a difficult corner on that one anyway. It does bunch up, and I think six of the top seven cars all had front and rear damage, only because that's just the nature of the beast of that corner. But that's something that that's an overadded cost of this championship, which maybe we'll have to think about. But other than that, I think it's all positive.

SPEAKER_04 25:30

And Ricky, one for yourself. Um you you've got a double champion in your team. Obviously, Dan's talked about having Ash within his team. Um how's that going? Because you're not seemingly there to make up the numbers. You've gone will to will with him and and Ash as well over these first few weeks. Um, how's he taking the uh the challenge knowing that there's someone out there uh looking to beat him?

SPEAKER_03 25:53

I honestly I actually really like the guy. He's uh he's been absolutely sound, he's really helped me.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

That's what you said before we started following. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:02

But no, he's he's been spot on, and you know, it's really nice to have someone in your corner that you can you can fight with. Um I remember when I was doing the championship before with George Gamble, he was you know the same guy. It was just really easy to work with, and you can help each other and and work together. And you know, Ash and Dan are at the front, and um, you know, it's nice and I think when he when there's two Napa cars that can that can work with each other, and Tom's all up there normally by himself. So for me to be there with him, we do we share everything. Um we share all the data, all the video. Um Aidan, don't say anything, please. Yeah, we share everything, literally everything, yeah. And uh no, he's been he's been absolutely spot on. And look, it's um it's just been a great, a great guy to to have in the team and and to work with. So we're gonna continue, I think, to to work together and with we'll just keep just keep sharing or share the love, you know what I mean? Maybe share the love, maybe.

SPEAKER_04 27:03

Do you have similar driving styles in terms of setup and stuff?

SPEAKER_02 27:05

You go down the same road, or is his package similar to your sort of thing?

SPEAKER_03 27:10

Yeah, we package really package. We share everything. So the package is the package is the package. The package is the package. Package is the package, and he's got a nice phone, he's got a great package. I've got a got an you know, together it's you know, it's you know.

SPEAKER_04 27:24

I feel like Aiden's package is the only package we haven't really discussed. You're in a happy place. Yeah, can you talk to me about your package? Well, because that new new Audi, the team have done a great job, genuinely. That looks like an absolute fantastic car. I'm a fantastic package.

SPEAKER_00 27:37

Package is performing well. I'm nearly 30 this year, so to have a good performing package is rare at this age, so yeah, that's a nice spot to be in, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 27:46

Not on them blue pills yet, then Sam.

SPEAKER_00 27:48

Thought we're talking about the car.

SPEAKER_03 27:49

Yes, yeah, of course, of course. No, that's it.

SPEAKER_00 27:51

I think the nice thing is with the Audi package, yeah, that there's still a hell of a lot that we need to develop. What's great with the new Saturday setup, it kind of hampers us a little bit because we could do with a couple of practice sessions because there's so much to try on the car, but you really know where you stand with our setup. You can kind of do FP1 and straight into qualifying. We're in a position where sometimes there's something you want to try, but it's a little bit of a stab in the dark. Um but the car feels like it's in a really good kind of working window that's close, but we could really do it for a couple of more um days to really try some things out. There's certain areas where it needs to improve. But I kind of went into the season thinking we'll struggle for the first half of the year, um, and then the second half we should be able to fight. And I've I think at um at Donington in the first qualifying, I just had a slight slide through the old hairpin and had half a tire off. If it wasn't for that, we'd have qualified third, would have, should have, could have. But um it shows where the pace is there already. Um, I think there's a little bit of work and the slow speed with the car, um, which was master bit at Donington. So just go faster in them corners. I wish I thought of that. Yeah. See?

SPEAKER_03 29:04

That's good as well. See, we help each other out. We're actually good mates.

SPEAKER_00 29:08

Facebook is good for help people. Disappointing 17th today, or drive faster.

SPEAKER_03 29:13

Yeah, honestly, these guys are of course on Twitter is really helpful sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 29:18

Especially when you're I bet you don't even know your headlights are flashing until you sign on Facebook. No, do you know?

SPEAKER_03 29:24

Well, we actually bet we're actually gonna start with bed tires. I'm actually gonna start bedding headlight switches now. Just come in and quick switch change. Yeah, right, Rick, off you go.

SPEAKER_00 29:33

I thought you were just smiling. I thought headlights on the bottom. Me and you brother, me and new motherfuckers.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

We were actually discussing before this week. If we had Ash in here, we could have the full Turkey stats.

SPEAKER_04 29:44

We did clarify we have got two team turkey.

SPEAKER_03 29:47

Yeah, but near ours, we actually spent we're not yeah, we actually spent money in our country and actually got it done properly.

SPEAKER_00 29:53

Back up skip pile.

SPEAKER_04 29:57

Sharding deals. So you invested in uh UK uh suppliers. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:05

Whereas he obviously went abroad and got his hair done and actually. I'm going next week. So um what for?

SPEAKER_04 30:17

To get my package to it. I mean give me some good numbers. You've got uh half a new package, I guess, because uh obviously the front end of the car exactly the same. Oh, there's a growing spoke to you during a couple of the tests. It's definitely a growing and the kind of incremental improvements rather than a kind of revolutionary improvement.

SPEAKER_02 30:42

Yeah, what you said. I'm half listening to this and where this is going. Um have you got some bolt-ons, have you? I was just thinking about incremental gains, actually. Because I think that's a couple of inches between me. It's important, isn't it? You know, I mean, you're always you're always trying to improve. Shut up.

SPEAKER_03 30:59

Um I reckon we should do this on a Sunday after we came with a beer. But when you're the beer when you're all moody fers. No, we're always a good boy, aren't we?

SPEAKER_02 31:08

That's where the bit's when you need the beer. I forgot what your question was. I think it was about the car. Yeah, it's um your bolt on. Yeah, we bolted on a new bit of the rear. And um BBL.

SPEAKER_03 31:20

We've actually yeah, we have actually got the full turkey spec now. We've got teeth, hair, and then you've got the bolt on on your uh on your on your back end.

SPEAKER_04 31:27

Do you even notice the like because it is such a small difference behind you? Do you even notice those changes? Or is it just so minute on each corner and stuff?

SPEAKER_02 31:36

It's just like honestly, the cars people people say how different is it? How different is it? It's it's actually not as different as you might think.

SPEAKER_03 31:42

I got right, I got right in the back of it at um at Brad's hatch, didn't I? I actually I actually got inside your um backend. Yeah, inside your back end of the. So you're not allowed to them. You did have a chat after. And my package was fine, but you did say that yours was a bit bad and bruised.

SPEAKER_04 31:58

It was, it was. I think we had to have a bit of a new a new rear crash bar. But have you unlocked more in the obviously I know you can find improvements? In these first two events, it seems to have kicked on from the test at the start of the season.

SPEAKER_02 32:09

Um difficult. I think so. Ultimately, yeah, there's it's so the car the car is is better, I think. It's marginally improved in all areas that we needed it to. It's not don't feel that much different to drive, which it shouldn't, because the wheelbase is the same. Which is a good thing because we had a really good car last year. So I think it's better in the right places, and I'm hopefully we can keep making it better. As Aidan uh mentioned earlier, one thing you're short of isn't it is time. Um, yes, pre-season, technically you could have as much time as you want, but don't kind of work like that because there's limitations on budget, limitations on track time with the weather. Um you you always end up limited down to sort of four or five days where you've you and and it's amazing how quick it runs out. It it runs out really very quickly. Yeah, but your package is is great. So you didn't need a lot of time.

SPEAKER_03 33:00

Can I ask you a couple questions about your your package? Go for it. So obviously uh new host. I've been looking for a new host, to be honest. I've got a couple of questions. So if you have a your your original page. Don't show us me anything technical. You're no, I'm gonna ask you a couple of technical questions. Yeah, but you're assuming I know the answer. Your original package was a hatchback, yeah? Correct. So what's your package now? Saloon. It's a saloon now. So can you answer a couple of questions?

SPEAKER_04 33:21

So if you have That really isn't that technical a question.

SPEAKER_03 33:23

No, no, no, here we go, here we go. So this will get a bit technical now. Get the Tim Four hats on. So if you have a hatchback car, would that be slower in a straight line than a saloon car? If it was doing the same speed? If it was if it was going the same speed, the same speed of this same amount of power. Same amount of power.

SPEAKER_02 33:41

I can't answer that. What's her bill? Because I know where you're going with this. But you've got you honestly, if we're going to talk about power, should we get down to it? Yeah, come on, come on. Let's get stopping. Because we've been in the driving.

SPEAKER_03 33:53

A hatchback car before, yeah, and then you've now got a saloon car, yeah. So have they made any changes to the engine on your car or not? No, I think we slowed it up, if anything. So that surely would mean that your car would now be fast in a straight line. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I'll tell you what, I could I can assure you how quick is that thing in a straight line?

SPEAKER_02 34:10

I don't think anyone watching this is doubting the speed of a high on down the straight line. It's quite crazy. We've literally watched it exceeded for the last three years.

SPEAKER_04 34:19

You got a slow one.

SPEAKER_00 34:22

The speed trap figures last for a year. Yeah, they're not looking at the odds button invested all that money to go slow. Uh the car's quicker.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

Yeah. It's a lot quicker, isn't it? It's so much quicker. Yeah. I hope so. Well, I mean it's bit I think it's a bit unfair how quick that car is. I reckon that should be in for the second half of the year with a little cheeky DOP change.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

I just think there is one answer to this debate. What's that? With the Ford being quicker and the Houndai being quicker, if it just give the Odies a lot of boost. That's a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 34:54

How quick is that as well? That's way that's way too quick.

SPEAKER_04 34:56

Everyone's really slow car. That's a good package. The straight line speed debate that we have every year and it gets very tiring. I'm surprised.

SPEAKER_02 35:05

I'm quite surprised Kuropy Hyundai driver.

SPEAKER_00 35:07

I must tell you.

SPEAKER_04 35:09

I mean, not a comment.

SPEAKER_00 35:11

They usually try and brush it under the carpet. Don't try and bring it up for delay.

SPEAKER_04 35:20

Bringing it back to this season, um, how mad is it that the off-season seems to take forever and now we're like just over a fortnight away from an earlier than usual mid-season break? Does that give you is is it mid-season break if it's if we're not mid-season? I know, but it's a 40% season break. It's gonna really frustrate me. What is no? You're gonna have to call it mid-season. It's still No, it's a two-fifth.

unknown 35:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 35:45

Yeah, it is, yeah. It's quite good. I've just had to work that out myself. Um can you can you work on stuff in that break or is there not really enough?

SPEAKER_00 35:53

Scotland are going to win the World Cup, so I'll be here in the pub all the time, to be honest. You're gonna work on that.

SPEAKER_04 35:58

I know today stamina. Aidan, I did promise we weren't gonna talk about football. Hearts fan.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

Alright, okay, next question.

SPEAKER_04 36:07

I am an Arsenal fan, I just really want to get it into the podcast because I'm so excited. Does Thierry Homer still play? No, he doesn't.

SPEAKER_00 36:13

Why don't we do with touring cars what the Scottish Football League does with Celtic? If like a favourite person's not one, then we just keep on going. Just keep going until they win penalty to Celtic.

SPEAKER_04 36:23

It didn't go down very well, did it?

SPEAKER_00 36:25

I don't know what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_04 36:27

Um and go on then the World Cup. Oh, we Scotland's gonna win that. Are you going?

SPEAKER_02 36:32

I'm going. No. I tell you what we need to do, what we did a few years ago. It was a few years ago. That um FIFA challenge. Are we up? Oh, we're good. Let's do that. There is a FIFA tournament.

SPEAKER_04 36:44

We'll bring in FIFA to some next event.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

Which was weird.

SPEAKER_04 36:48

So yeah, FIFA tournament at their next event at Auton on the Friday. So we're gonna have to pick out because obviously we've got too many English and Ashley and shins are just gonna get absolutely drilled, aren't they? So I think we'll be picking teams out of a hat, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:02

Actually get to play it. Oh, I thought you actually played pinball because you can't actually break his ankles.

SPEAKER_04 37:07

No, that's uh not part of the game, I'm afraid. Just stamping on people in hospitality for no reason. Right, coming back to the this season, Aiden, you said originally you were looking at kind of learning about the car in the first half of the season and then looking for results in the second half. I presume you've changed those targets a little bit because the car looked pretty damn quick straight out of the box.

SPEAKER_00 37:33

Yeah, it was very strong. I mean, came away from Bryant Sachs quite disappointed. I think race two we got up to up to fourth with five laps to go, and then the red flag and it put us back to fifth, but the car had a lot of pace in it. But erm started in a good spot, and then this corner two, just a bunching, kind of got put sideways and rejoined quite far back in the park. So to come away in the second race with a fifth, a tenth, and be disappointed. It's kind of where where we are with the car. We know we can be fighting for more. Um we dropped back to sixth in the championship when we were third, which I think means it fires you up a little bit more for this weekend, having that bit more boost again to try and get a good qualifying and go from there because it was surprising how affected you were with a with a good championship position at brands to struggle and um qualifying to then struggle in the qualifying race to then struggle in the first race. There was quite a lot to it. Um it felt like it lasted forever before you had a fighting chance again by the time race two arrived. So yeah, I think um now getting a bit boost back, we want to be fighting to be up at the up at the front again. And really the aim was to just get on the podium. Um I think pretty much every every weekend as a realistic aim is to be fighting for a podium.

SPEAKER_04 38:53

You said about your teammate Dexter, obviously, well, he's not a talent for the future, he's a talent for right now. But touch on your other teammate, Mikey, um he's a talented lad as well, isn't he? He's someone who's gonna have a a big future in this championship.

SPEAKER_00 39:06

Yeah, Mikey's a very, very quick driver. Um he's a great guy as well, you know. He got on really good with Mikey, which makes it easier. Um, as Dan touched on earlier, and and Ricky, you know, when you've you spend a lot of time together, a lot and if you can work together, it makes your life easier.

SPEAKER_03 39:22

You share everything with your teammates as well.

SPEAKER_00 39:24

Only some things it does make your life a hell of a lot easier. And you know, that's something I found with Dexter being quick, with Mikey being quick. It's a couple of times I've tried quite different things on the car because I know I can look at their data and rely on comparing it, um, which then gives you that opportunity to try something because you've got that fallback. So things like that, being able to work together as a team and being open with each other, that allows you to do that and it just kind of speeds up the process of getting where you need to get to be competitive.

SPEAKER_04 39:58

And Ricky, I know uh a main one is obviously to try and ensure you can complete the season, obviously, is the thing that you've got your main focus on. But if not, can I just do the podcast? You can be the new podcast host because we definitely need one.

SPEAKER_03 40:11

I'm teaming up with you because otherwise it will not be allowed to be heard on TV.

SPEAKER_04 40:15

But for you, if you do that season, you're in a title race in the early stages, so so why not?

SPEAKER_03 40:21

Yeah, look, you know, we're doing everything we can behind the scenes to stay in this um in this car for the rest of the year. And look, you know, Virtue, Hyundai, um, or the Accelerate team, you know, they're doing everything they can. Um but yeah, look, I've got a really good start to the yeah. Well, I say good, I've only finished four races, but I finished on the podium in three of those. Um I just need to be a bit more consistent and just finish finish some more races, but equally, when you know you're not doing the whole season, you just want to just get stuck in. And um, and that's kind of the approach that we've got to take, really. So look, we're um we're just taking every weekend as it comes. After this, I could only be doing one more weekend in the car. So I want to um want to do everything I can to stay in the car. I've got some great teammates, great team. And just quickly, what you're saying about Dexter. I watched race two back the other night um from Brands Hatch, and my teammate, Nick Hamilton, got the fastest slap of the race until when we were on Slicks and the Wet. And the guy's driving with all these different assists and stuff like that with his disability, and I thought that was definitely worth a mention.

SPEAKER_04 41:27

Oh, I know, absolutely, mate. He was on the previous podcast. Um, Nick starred at Brands. I mean, even in qualifying. It was insane.

SPEAKER_03 41:33

Yeah, it's I was like, Jesus, thank God he was near the front because uh I was definitely doing a good job of holding everybody up.

SPEAKER_04 41:38

I think that was the uh Yeah, and I think he had uh 11th place, I think, in one of the races. So since his sixth place at Donington a couple of years ago, it's his best results.

SPEAKER_03 41:46

And he didn't do race one because he opted for the wets or something else. So he actually that was like we had a little bit of a practice go in race one with slicks and the wet, and yeah, Nick genuinely went out in race two with like no uh no subback. I think is the fair play indeed.

SPEAKER_02 42:02

No, he is an absolute good guy as well.

SPEAKER_04 42:04

He is an absolute outstanding guy, and uh on the previous podcast, um said he still sometimes you know not doubts himself but you know pinches himself about whether he should be on this grid. But I think we all agree Nick is an absolute valuable member of this paddock and uh absolutely deserves to be on that grid.

SPEAKER_03 42:20

He's so cool to have us as a teammate. And I you know, I've been with him and he said like a couple of times, he's like, Oh, Rick, you know, how like it's he's just genuinely happy for like other people as well. Um then he's like, Oh, but I'm not getting the grip to it as quickly as you are. But I'm like, Nick, you're doing like an unreal job to be able to go out there and you know, even just be able to compete at this level.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

Um I think people also don't understand with a touring car that the biggest aid to going first in a touring car is the brake pressures and the way you roll off the brake and manipulate these cars.

SPEAKER_03 42:50

No ABS.

SPEAKER_00 42:51

That's we've got no ABS, the pedal's solid, you need to put a lot of pressure through it. The way you roll out the pedal, kind of get the car leaning and moving. That's the biggest tool as a driver to make these cars quick, and it's the most important point of these cars. And you know, with what with Nick's disability, it just makes it so difficult. And that's um, I think people don't understand the importance of that, which makes it so much more special of what Nick's actually doing. Um, and actually how quick he is. I think it's such a competitive championship. I think an outsider might look through the grid and think if someone's in a certain area that they're doing bad, people would be very, very shocked how hard it would get to be to get near the back of a touring car grid. Um so I don't think he gets anything like the respect that he deserves actually. Um and that's just as an uh forgetting everything, just as a driver in the performances he does put in. Oh, well said boys, well said.

SPEAKER_03 43:45

And just one thing as well, we were talking before, weren't we, like about Porsches and how they're going to ABS for for next year. And I've driven a lot of things with ABS and track control, and I can tell you it is uh nowhere near as fun. Driving these cars. With a proper sequential box that you're banging down the gears, you're blipping, you're heel and towing, you got no ABS, you've got no traction control, there's not much down force. It is so raw. And I think that's what makes the racing so good. And I honestly tell people this like if you watch Formula One with the hype that's going on at the moment, they've done all the dry survive stuff, and it does feel like there's a real aura in Formula One. And I say to people, I was like, they think it's amazing. I say to my friends, I'm like, guys, watch watch Tory cars, just watch a couple of races, and um, and it's definitely I I think what makes this this championship so special.

SPEAKER_04 44:33

Finish off with you on a serious question. We we have got some quick fire questions just to finish off, but just talk about your championship. Every year now, you are a championship challenger. Well, you come into every season and you're here to challenge for a title.

SPEAKER_02 44:46

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I appreciate you you saying I'm challenging like that. Um, yeah, it's a long way to go, and ultimately um gonna have to recover some points. Um, you know, that the Ash is on a on a hell of a roll. Ingram's doing a great job. These guys are right there as well. It's it's very open, isn't it, at the moment? But um it will start to settle down a little bit and and the boost is gonna start to swing, and uh you're gonna start to see sort of the protagonist, I guess, sort of start to move towards the front. Um I guess we'll see. But yeah, I'd I'd like to think that I'll be somewhere thereabouts, as I have been in the past. But it's um yeah, it's an incredibly tough championship, there's no doubt about that. And the the speed at the front is incredibly high. Um it is it is a very, very uh good level. So um yeah, let's see. I'm hoping that you know this is this this to me, it's an eight-round championship from now. I want to you know start again. I came here last year and did a great job. Uh, you know, hopefully coming here to repeat that. I think we've got a good car. It's hopefully non-changeable weather conditions. Uh might be too hot, actually. And uh yeah, let's see what we can do.

SPEAKER_04 45:56

Right, we're gonna do a quick f some quick fire questions. I don't know if you've seen the previous ones.

SPEAKER_00 46:00

Poor Dexter has been couldn't understand a word.

SPEAKER_04 46:04

Right. Dexter has been um well, lambasted for his genuine answer of what is the biggest animal you could take on in a fight. Oh, that's it. And poor Dexter did answer gorilla, and he was being completely straight up about it, and uh has obviously been hammered for it because that's quite clearly a crazy answer, in my opinion, in my humble opinion. Um so throwing it over to you guys.

SPEAKER_02 46:29

What is a genuine animal Why do I have to go first?

SPEAKER_04 46:31

What is a genuine animal, the largest animal you could take on in a fight?

SPEAKER_02 46:36

Dunno, honestly. I mean, I don't go around. Who's going around looking for fights with animals to start out? People from Girls. I reckon it's turtle I reckon we're beyond turtle. I don't know. A turtle.

SPEAKER_03 46:50

A medium-sized dog? A turtle dog?

SPEAKER_02 46:52

A medium-sized dog.

SPEAKER_03 46:53

Do you know what turtle is in Portuguese? No. Tataluga.

SPEAKER_02 46:56

Right, that well There you go.

SPEAKER_03 46:58

Do you know it in any other language? I don't know. I just learnt that. Why would you learn that? I don't know. I just thought I'd entertaining the crowd now. I thought I'd just share some you know some knowledge of you guys.

SPEAKER_02 47:08

Um I I honestly I don't I don't know. I mean I'm I'm gonna find out though. Go out there at night.

SPEAKER_04 47:12

Aidan, uh for you, I'll ask you this because it's pro the answer's probably you, but you're gonna have to name somebody else. Who is the biggest wind-up merchant in the BTC paddock? And don't say Josh either. Don't be boring.

SPEAKER_00 47:24

Ah Sutton, starting in second gear. Let's think get a grip, grow up. Annoys everybody.

SPEAKER_04 47:32

As you've had so many comments about the wonderful world of BTC, what rule would you change in the BTC if you could change one or add one?

SPEAKER_03 47:40

I don't know, mate. I think the guys are doing such a solid with the championship, it's it's difficult really.

SPEAKER_00 47:44

But um NASCAR style. Not happy, fighting a pit lane.

SPEAKER_03 47:48

More fighting. But no, I think um the guys do such a good job with this championship, and I think bringing the extra race in on Saturday has been a fantastic addition to the championship. And look, we want to bring more fans in.

SPEAKER_00 48:00

We're only asked what to change.

SPEAKER_03 48:01

Quick fire.

SPEAKER_00 48:02

Quick fire, what do you want to change? You guys are doing great.

SPEAKER_03 48:05

You guys are doing great. Just just let me have a bit more time. Nothing then. Can I just have a bit more boost? Like, yeah, no problem, mate. Yeah, consider it.

SPEAKER_04 48:15

Anyone who takes part in the podcast gets extra boost for that particular weekend. So um I think we'll end that podcast there. Um we've been filming for probably about four hours, and uh, there's probably about four minutes that we can show. Thanks, guys. Thanks for watching.

SPEAKER_00 48:32

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SPEAKER_02 48:35

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