Dave Newsham hints he could put brakes on BTCC career
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RUNNING a business alongside a professional racing career is taxing and it may persuade Dave Newsham to call it quits.
Newsham is on the lookout for his sixth team in six seasons as a British Touring Car Championship racer. But the stress last season of digging into his own pocket to fund his drive, cannot happen again.
At 48, Newsham, the managing director at Norscott Vending, accepts that if he fails to get a drive for the 2016 season, his BTCC career is done.
A downturn in business at the vending machine specialists in 2015 made it harder for the Westhill racer to justify forking out to join another team.
While he insists the desire remains to rejoin the grid, he is honest in considering that his time may be up.
“I had to dig deeper than I ever have before and that did not go down well with the wife,” said Newsham.
“We might have to scale back our holidays over the next few years to get that back.
“Business was quiet last year and that made everything more stressful. At my time of life I don’t need that.
“If I don’t retain a drive, at my age I will never get it back. It’s sad that it could have been my last season but you never say never.
“Last season was my worst sponsorship-wise. My drive was subsidised and it’s a struggle to pay that back.
“I still enjoy racing and if I’ve got to drop down to a different level to feed my racing habit, so be it. But BTCC is looking more unlikely.”
Last weekend’s Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham represents what could be the last roll of the dice for the former Clio Cup champion.
Newsham pencilled in meetings with three teams on the BTCC grid to gauge their interest and what budgets they require.
He has been pounding the phones this week to chase up potential sponsors so he has a clear idea of how much money he can provide.
A new suspension package brought in by BTCC this season is likely to add £40,000 on to team budgets, and Newsham believes the problem with attaining finance is widespread.
His 2015 teammate at PowerMaxed Racing Josh Cook, who won the Jack Sears Trophy his colleague won the year before, is also finding it difficult to tie down a drive.
“Someone needs to offer me a cheaper drive, which I don’t think is likely,” said Newsham.
“But I had a few meetings lined up and I’m keeping my options open. It only takes one person to say he’s got the budget and get in touch.
“I’ve had a fairly good career in BTCC and a good career in racing before that. I’m working as hard as I can to keep going but I need outside help.”
It all started for Newsham as the winner of the Clio Cup in 2010, earning him a spot on the BTCC grid.
His first season, split between Geoff Steel Racing and Special Tuning Racing, was a learning curve, but his 2012 campaign with Team ES Racing.com was memorable.
Two race wins in consecutive weekends, coming at Snetterton and Knockhill, added to three other podium finishes throughout the season, pushed him to ninth in the drivers’ championship.
When he joined Speedworks in 2013 he found himself consistently in the top 10 and nearly matched his finish from the previous year. But his move to AmDTuning.com did not pan out as planned.
The one bright spot was in the wake of personal tragedy after the death of his mother, when Newsham took second in the final race at Knockhill.
The Lancashire-born driver found himself searching for a team again in 2015 and the newly-formed PowerMaxed Racing came up with the goods.
His best finishes came in the last two weekends, coming fourth at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, in a frustrating season that saw him end in 16th spot overall.
“It’s a difficult one but I should have an answer by the end of this week,” added Newsham. “The sponsors I have enjoy the exposure they get, so I have to look after them.
“But when it becomes so stressful and you’re not enjoying it, there’s not much point continuing.”
- For more information on Newsham’s sponsorship package visit his Facebook page. It can also be found on www.norscottvending.co.uk/btcc/ebrochure/
