The fact that the
BMW came to the BTCC with such a pedigree, having finished second in the World Championship last year, has put some pressure on me but I think I’m my own worst enemy for heaping extra pressure on myself. The suspension set-up they used for different tyres and the dampers, well its questionable how good they were for us to use here but it’s difficult to slip into someone else’s race seat, especially when it is someone so good. But we have had some gearbox problems, some suspension issues and it’s about time we had some luck.
We have come away from the weekend with positive data and whatever we do to the car at the moment, its reacting how we want it to. If we want to induce understeer, then it is understeering and it never did that before. It has been such an animal but now the car wants to stay as it is so I can improve my own personal performance and get used to it again. Then we can push for the extra time that we need.
I’m far happier now than I have been at any other time when I’ve written to you following a race day. You mask these things up as it is heartbreaking sometimes and makes you want to hang up your overalls because you think you can’t do it but we are strong, we have a strong team and we’ll be there for the duration.
And to just to clear up what you might have heard in the paddock about it being my birthday - I’m not a day over 35 (plus VAT!)…
Until next time,
MB
For the 2006 season, you can become a sponsor of Martyn Bell and the Geoff Steel Racing BMW in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as, for £550, you can purchase space on the chequered flag that adorns the roof of Martyn’s car. Visit www.martynbellracing.com/sponsors/ for more information and to purchase your space on the car.
