Newsham hopeful of funds for NGTC car
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DAVE Newsham hopes to stay with Team ES Racing for next year’s British Touring Car Championship, but concedes it will only be viable if he can compete in a Next Generation Touring Car.
The Inverness driver has impressed this season with two wins and a further four podium finishes, leaving him eighth in the overall standings, albeit a long way behind the leading competitors.
In order to close that gap, Newsham knows the team need to switch to an NGTC car in 2013, but financial constraints may not allow the budget to stretch that far.
"There’s no doubt we need to be in an NGTC car for next season," he said. "The reality is, however, that we need to raise an additional £100,000 to be in an NGTC car, and that is not easy when we have struggled to raise the money for this year.
"In saying that, we do have a great core of sponsors that will hopefully stay with us and want to see me in a competitive car for 2013.
"One thing is certain though and that is we will be working very hard during the next few months to try an raise the necessary budget to stay in BTCC.
"If we are here and running NGTC cars next season, then my aim is to win the championship."
The 2012 campaign finishes on Sunday with the final three races taking place at Brands Hatch.
After a second and third place finish at Silverstone, Newsham is hopeful he can see out a positive season on a high.
"I can’t wait," said the 45-year-old, who began the season by achieving pole position at the same venue. "I love the Brands GP circuit.
"We managed to get pole for race one on the Indy Circuit at the start of the season, but the NGTC teams have honed their cars during the season, so I would think pole position might be difficult.
"My car should suit the GP circuit. It rides the kerbs well and for a quick lap round there you need to commit to the kerbs.
"If I’m honest, I’ve been looking forward to Silverstone and Brands Hatch races all year.
"There are certain circuits that don’t suit the S2000 car, and some that do. If its high tyre degradation, we are miles off the pace.
"Fortunately for us, Brands Hatch and Silverstone aren’t, so we can compete."
The focus for Newsham is firmly upon securing a satisfactory conclusion to what has been a fine campaign, but if events do not pan out as intended, he still believes this year can be declared a roaring success for both himself and Team ES Racing.
"We have done better than I thought we would," he said.
"I did say before the season got under way that we might sneak a win.
"People thought I was mad saying that, but I knew within two laps of driving the VXR Vectra we could do something special with it, and I think we have."
If Newsham required further evidence of the impact he has made this season then it came with the announcement this week that he had been voted the driver of the year by fans who follow the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s official btcc.net website forum.
The former Renault Clio Cup champion will be presented with the trophy at this weekend’s season finale at Brands Hatch, joining an elite list that already includes Mat Jackson, Paul O’Neill, Shaun Hollamby and Frank Wrathall.
"I’m delighted but also stunned," said Newsham. "To have one of motorsport’s most passionate and knowledgeable bunch of fans anywhere in the world pick you as their favourite is a real honour.
"The trophy will be sitting very proudly alongside any trophy I’ve ever won in a race!"
Charlie Jobson, one of the fans who voted for Newsham, will present him with the prize this weekend.
"When Dave was racing in the Clio Cup, I wanted to see him in the BTCC and he hasn’t disappointed," he said.
"His giant-killing performances in an out-of-date car have proved that he is a very talented racer who’s definitely capable of mixing it with the big names. All credit to ES Racing for making the car competitive too."
