Newsham aiming high for new season
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DAVE Newsham is targeting a top six placing this season and is not ruling out the possibility of his first-ever podium finish as well as the British Touring Car Championship prepares to resume.
In a debut season pockmarked by car troubles and issues with Geoff Steel Racing and Special Tuning Racing — the two teams he represented last year — Newsham is in a far happier place as the new campaign prepares to begin in earnest on Sunday at Brands Hatch.
Having secured a deal with ES Racing, Newsham could not be happier with the car he has at his disposal and believes it is good enough to be up amongst the leading contenders after several encouraging testing sessions at Silverstone earlier this month.
"I want to be in the top six this year and I think it’s an objective that’s very achievable," said the Inverness-based driver.
"Obviously, you can never rule out crashes and engine failures, but if we can avoid those then a top six placing is, for me, a realistic aim.
"I also really hope that we can get on to the podium as well. In fact, that’s a target for this weekend and I believe we have a really good chance of getting that."
After the struggles of last season, Newsham exudes positivity when asked about the car — an ex-factory Vauxhall VXR Vectra — he will be driving next season.
"My first impressions of the car are incredible, it feels so much more like a racing car, rather than a converted road car," said the 44-year-old.
"It makes all the right noises, changes direction very well and rides the kerbs like a limousine. It’s a very sorted car that’s had millions spent on it over the years, so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised."
A former Renault Clio Cup champion, Newsham felt he knew almost everything about motorsport and what’s involved, but concedes his first year at BTCC level was a real eye-opener.
After car troubles ended a short stint with Geoff Steel Racing, it was on to Special Tuning Racing for Newsham, yet it was not the step up he had hoped it would have been.
"I was very much the second driver in that team and that was something I had never experienced before," he said.
"The team just wasn’t behind me, but now I’m with the team that wants to really be competitive.
"I definitely learned a lot last year. It’s certainly a whole different ball game compared to the other levels of motorsport that I’ve been involved in previously.
"It was difficult at times last year, but I’m now with a great team that is 100 per cent behind me and this car just seems better, so everything is very positive."
It may not have been the debut season Newsham had hoped as he eventually finished 15th in the driver standings for 2011, but the experience as a whole is not one he would change in a hurry.
"Despite everything, I did enjoy last year," he said. "It was a huge change for me, but it was great.
"It’s just like one massive circus and I just can’t wait to get racing again.
"I am really looking forward to the start of the new season and I just hope that as a team, we can do well."
Newsham’s progress at Brands Hatch on Sunday can be followed on ITV4 from 11am.
