I was just looking at doing that again really and it's horrible as I've said to you to before. It's a horrible, horrible feeling just knowing that the first round is getting closer and you have nothing sorted. Now I can focus, we are raring to get the car on the tarmac and it should happen before February - hopefully we will have done a shakedown by the end of the month. Its just brilliant for me, I'm so happy that I can focus in the gym and focus mentally and know that I will be out there for the full year.
Q:
So after a few years with Halfords, how did the deal with Motorbase come about?
Gareth Howell:
Dave approached me at the
Autosport Awards after a few jars of ale – and I think that applies to both him and me! I obviously knew he had the cars and I asked how it was looking for next year, all perfectly innocently as at that point I was punting for the Dynamics seat, and he said ‘Actually mate, you're top of my list'. I thought it was the beer talking more than anything and took it with a pinch of salt. But he was on the phone to me that week and told me that he was serious and wanted to put a deal together where he could have enough team budget to select as least the lead driver. He confirmed deals between then and now so there is the team funding in place to run the lead car.
Q:
Its almost a case of mission accomplished really because in the last few years, while you've wanted to get in with Team Halfords, the limited programme has given you the chance to show other teams in the paddock what you can achieve..
Gareth Howell:
Yeah and its nice that as a result of what Dynamics have been able to put me in, which was a fantastic car, that I've gone out there and proved myself against the British champion and have been able to as good as match him. That has been a great stepping stone because now, rather than chasing everybody, people are starting to come to me which feels fantastic.
Q:
The Toledo is a proven car and we've seen what it can do in the BTCC, mainly from the time that SEAT used it for a few seasons. What are you hoping to achieve with the car this year?
Gareth Howell:
Well I think it's been run really well by Northern South but we're not just sitting on the car as it is, we are moving it forward.
![New Motorbase Performance driver Gareth Howell [Pic credit: Peter Still]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/285480.jpg)
