Hi guys,
I know I haven’t spoke to you for a while but I’ve been so busy with things that I thought it was time to bring you up to speed...
This season hasn’t exactly started in the way I had planned, but it could be a lot worse that’s for sure. I think it’s fair to say that the WTCC has become a lot more competitive in 2007 but that has not changed my outlook on the championship - it's only made me more determined to succeed by winning the Independents’ title.
My season got off to a good start in Brazil in race one where I led the independents for almost the entire race. Unfortunately I made a mistake at the end of the race and let Corthals and D’Aste through, but I still gathered points - which is going to be critical to my championship campaign this year. One important lesson that I have learned from Andy Priaulx is to finish on all accounts, score points wherever possible because its consistency that wins championships. The second race in Brazil, I was punted off by Hernandez and this has been my only non-finish so far.
As a team we had huge expectations for Zandvoort as it was Tom Coronel’s home race - he could drive Zandvoort blind folded and still probably turn a quick lap! He gave great feedback to the team throughout the weekend and helped me a lot, but there was only so much he could help with as the major problem throughout the weekend was changing track conditions as a result of sand being blown onto the circuit from the strong winds. For those of you who don’t know Zandvoort, it is built on sand dunes in a little seaside town about 20 minutes from Amsterdam…
Our nemesis this year has been qualifying and for whatever reason we have not hooked it all together. I decided to play safe in Holland and go for a points haul rather than try any heroics and not finish. Although it was a very quiet race by WTCC standards I managed two fifth places and some useful points.
![Emmet O'Brien - GR Asia SEAT Leon [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/320413.jpg)
