One change for this year sees two visits to Thruxton in Hampshire, with the second trip replacing Rockingham, which obviously closed last year. I think this is going to be good for us as I really enjoy Thruxton. The circuit itself is similar when it comes to tyre wear as Rockingham was, and we’ve been strong there in the past. Obviously if we’d have gone to the rear-wheel-drive favouring Croft twice I’d have been happier, but I’d have been less happy if we’d gone to Snetterton, a circuit which famously favours front-wheel-drive.
That being said, the gap between front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive has dropped over the years and we’re pretty much the same everywhere we go.
All in all, the goal for this year is to help BMW retain all three championships again and to secure my second BTCC crown. I’m confident that we’re going to be at the sharp end again and I’m ready to get cracking on with this year. I feel like part of the furniture at WSR now, I get on incredibly well with the team, particularly my engineer, and we know exactly how each other works. There’s nothing to prove anymore, just go out and there and do what I know I can do.
Photography courtesy of Motorsport Images.