MotorsTV UK Official Blog

I’m delighted to be writing this new column for the Motors TV website, because I think this could be a great year for me.  I’ll be honest – the aim is to win the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and with the Chevrolet Cruze I think I’ve got a great opportunity.

The WTCC begins in Brazil and is followed by Mexico. These are not historically good races for us. I’m the only Chevrolet driver to have scored points at Curitiba, but having finished 5th in 2007 and 8th in 2006, it’s not the type of results you go around shouting about. I quite like the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba, so there is no reason for it not to like me!

In eight races in Mexico, I’ve only finished in the points once – and that was back in 2005 – and the year after I finished up in hospital, so that’s not been a lucky place either.

The most number of points we’ve managed to leave Brazil and Mexico with is four, but this year I’m looking for 12 or 13 points from the opening two race meetings.

It sounds ambitious, but I think we’ve got an excellent chance of making the strongest start we’ve ever had to a WTCC campaign.

I believe the Chevrolet Cruze is now the strongest car in the WTCC.  We had a good first season with it last year and we’ve had a very good test programme over the winter. We’ve not made any big changes to it, but as a team we all understand the car a lot better and we know how to get the most out of it.

I’ve tested the Cruze at Valencia twice and once at Portimao, and we’ve worked very hard on fine tuning the set-up. At the final pre-season test session at Valencia I did four or five race distance runs, which might be very beneficial when we get to the first race at Brazil.

We know the Chevrolet Cruze can be competitive in Curitiba. Our lap times last year demonstrated this and the outcome would have been a lot different had we not been forced out of the first race.

We also showed last year that the Cruze is phenomenally strong on street circuits, and I think we’ll be strong everywhere this year. That will be important, because our game plan for the season is to try and score points in every race.

That’s easier said than done of course, because the opposition this year will be very strong.  In fact, I think this will be the toughest season ever.

Consistency will be key to our championship success. If that means not winning any races in 2010, that doesn’t bother me – all I want to do in 2010 is come home with the title.

Hello again and welcome to my first blog of the 2010 season. After a great first season in British Formula Ford in 2009 where I comfortably won the Scholarship class and finished 6th Overall we decided it would be best for me to stick around in 2010 and race for the Overall Championship crown. The next decision was choosing a team, a decision that was not taken lightly. After months of head scratching we felt that a second year with the Kevin Mills Racing squad was my best option. After my recent visit to Australia to meet the Spectrum Manufacturer Borland Racing Developments I’m sure we have made the right decision. With a new car in 2010 the Spectrum 012, I believe I will have a car to match the Mygale and hopefully carry me to many wins along the way, if not the title.

It was decided my best option for some pre-season testing was to fly to Australia and get some warm weather mileage under my belt with the new Dunlop tyre. I did five days while I was there at three different tracks and there was no shortage of laps. With only a few cars, if any at times on track I had no distractions as we put new development parts to the test. I was very impressed with the Borland team and their desire to win in 2010. Their commitment to me and to winning is a key reason why I wanted to stay at Kevin Mills. The Dunlop tyre was better than I expected, not that I was expecting it to be bad, it was just very impressive whether new or old. With lap times considerably more consistent than the outgoing Avon.

Its difficult to judge our performance in Australia, the only data we had was from a year earlier on the Avon tire and we were faster at every track. But until we get to Oulton Park for the first race of the season we won’t know how good any team really is. But I am confident in the way the car reacted to the tire that we will have a stronger car than in 2009 which is very encouraging. I feel very motivated for the coming season and I believe as always it will be a very closely fought affair.

For now though I have a Dinner Suit to buy as on Saturday I have the BRSCC awards evening where I will collect my Scholarship trophy. Something I have been waiting a while to get my hands on, I hope this time next year I will be preparing to collect  the Championship trophy.

I look forward to bringing you updated blogs throughout the season and if you happen to be at any Ford meetings this year please come say hello. The first round of the season will take place at Oulton Park over the Easter Weekend. I hope to see you there.