Matt Neal:
Very, for us, if I’m being honest. On paper, what we have looks very exciting but SEAT and Jason are going to hit the road running at the start of the season as they have a full developed package, they know things and understand what works. We are going to be starting with a fresh sheet of paper so it isn’t going to be easy, but what we have looks exciting and you never know.
Q:
Ian Harrison, the VX Racing team boss, told us about the work they are having to put into the Vectra and they are a manufacturer backed team. As an independent team, how tough is it to source a car and put together a package and build a car without that backing?
Matt Neal:
It isn’t easy. When you think that the work force at Triple Eight is three times ours, they have a lot of strength in depth and are a good company. They will hit the road next week and towards the end of January with their new car and we will be looking at mid-March before we get ours out with all the best will in the world. It will be a case of backs to the wall for the first meeting and we’ll see how it pans out.
Q:
How do you see the season panning out? Do you think we might see some unexpected names near the front in the early stages because they won’t have teething problems to encounter?
Matt Neal:
Sure, there are some good cars out there. There are a fair few Toledo’s, there are Alfa Romeos, BMW’s and all of them will be strong. They are known packages whereas Vauxhall and ourselves are developing cars and starting afresh so it won’t be easy.
Q:
Given you have the new car, how special would it be if you could make it three titles in a row?
Matt Neal:
If we could do it this year, it would be more special than anything – not because it would be three in a row, but because SEAT should have won it last year and stole defeat from the jaws of victory. They should walk it this year with all the cards stacked in their favour, so if
anyone can beat them to the title then it should be special for them, not only us.
Q:
From a driver point of view, will it be Gordon Shedden alongside you again?
Matt Neal:
Yeah, that was all agreed last year, that it would be me and ‘Flash’ again for ’07. We are sorry to lose Gareth as reserve driver as he is off to pastures new but that is great for him.
Q:
How important is the continuity of keeping Gordon alongside you?
Matt Neal:
It’s very good. We have similar driving styles and he has a season under his belt now. He is very quick, although I don’t like it when he’s too quick as I have to keep up him, but it will be interesting. He is a very nice guy and works well with the team so it’s a pleasure to have him around.
