Andy Rouse: Q&A - EXCLUSIVE.

Andy Rouse is the most successful driver in the history of the British Touring Car Championship, with four titles and 60 wins during a glittering career.

Speaking to Crash.net, he talks about the reason why he feels his record won't stand forever...

Crash.net:
You are the most successful drive in BTCC history. Do you feel your record will ever be surpassed?

Andy Rouse:
I guess it will eventually because the drivers nowadays do three races in a day whereas we used to do one - we had 13 races in a season. It took me a lot longer than it would take a driver now to do the amount of races it would need to get to 60 wins. Jason Plato is creeping up on me but he still has a long way to.

Crash.net:
You were involved in the BTCC for many years before hanging up your helmet in 1994. How do you feel the series now compares to when you raced?

Andy Rouse:
It's different in a way as it is very close and competitive. The cars aren't as quick as the ones we used to race and in the old days, there were probably more cars as it was a class championship so sometimes there were 40 cars. It wasn't as cut throat in those days, the drivers thought differently and I suppose the advent of television and the fact it looks so good on television puts pressure on drivers to succeed. It makes good TV is they push and shove a bit but it's difficult to set the limits isn't it.

Crash.net:
What do you make of the current crop of drivers and how do you think they'd have faired in your day?

Andy Rouse:
Very well I should think. You have to be a good driver to win races and it doesn't matter what category you are in. Any of the lads in the top ten now would have been in the top ten in the old day.

Crash.net:
Who would you say was the biggest rival you had during your career?

Andy Rouse:
Probably Steve Soper, who was in the same era as me and was a factory driver for Ford for some time. I think it was in 1989 when the Ford team came over with Eggenberger, who were the factory team in Europe, and we had some great races here in the BTCC. I think they made six visits over and we beat them five times!

Crash.net:
Which was the hardest season?

Andy Rouse:
Toughest seasons? It probably wasn't one of the title winning seasons but we had some tough years and the hardest were probably in the latter years in Supertouring when there was more manufacturer involvement. Racing the Toyota in 1991/1992 and then the Ford in 1993/94 were the hardest years for sure.

Crash.net:
What's the best car you drove?

Andy Rouse:
The RS500 without a doubt. I think the most famous car was the Kaliber one as it was very high profile in terms of the coverage it got. That was the high point really.

Crash.net:
You still compete in historics, so the competitive desire must still be quite strong?

Andy Rouse:
I still like to get into rear-wheel drive cars although I wouldn't go out of my way to drive front-wheel drive. I like the old cars like the Mustangs and the Camaros - lots of power and rear-wheel drive is me!

Crash.net:
Do you enjoy coming back into the BTCC paddock when they are on the support bill?

Andy Rouse:
Yes I still like to come along and see it. There are a lot of people who still remember me!

Crash.net:
Who do you think has the best chance of winning the title this year?

Andy Rouse:
I don't know as it is such a changeable competition - it could be anybodies. It's been very close for the last few years and I think it will be close again. I would be hard pressed to make a choice but Matt Neal has come to the fore a bit and has been a great campaigner in years gone by. I think he might do it again.