The support we’ve had this year has been great and I didn’t believe how good it was. I don’t know if it’s the sound of the car or my ugly mug – I don’t know! We try to be nice to people as it’s free to be nice and the following we have got is great and is really moving for the whole team. I can’t believe that the grandstands at
Silverstone were cheering for me in the middle of the pack.
We finished the season joint 17th overall but there have been 26 cars out there this year. I’d have liked to finish the season a little higher in the standings but it’s our first year in the BTCC and you don’t get rid of me that easily - we’ll hopefully be back smiling and the
BMW will be wailing again next season.
For next year, everything is still to be discussed with sponsors, but it looks like we’ll be here and the #15 will be back. We just need that little bit extra on the budget and it looks like we are keeping most of the sponsors from this year which I’m proud of and pleased with. We need to do our sums and check the numbers to make sure we have the budget to run as I don’t want to be in the same position next year that I was in this season, where we didn’t quite have the funds.
At one meeting, we could only afford eight tyres which we kept quiet, but we have had a rough year and have made it the end. With the performances in the last few rounds we can hold our head up high and say we are running with the BTCC cars and are here to stay.
If we can get some good testing over the winter then it will help us no end. That engine has done 29 races and we’ve had it on the rolling road and it is just as good as when it started. I suppose some would argue I wasn’t peddling it hard enough, but it is the same engine and same seal as when we got it from Schnitzer, even the scrutineers can’t believe it. Schnitzer tell me they have one on the continent that has done two seasons, but I don’t think we’ll risk that!
Until next time, thanks to everyone – sponsors, team members and fans – for the support throughout the season. As I said earlier, it means a lot.
MB
