So, a new team mate at last – well for one meeting anyway – but what a buzzin’ weekend! Nightmare for us but it’s been really good for the second car – that’s been really impressive. Not many people knew outside the team that it was happening, but as soon as we got back from Snetterton, the aim was to get this new car out. It was a pretty good feeling really and it took all my thoughts (good and bad) from Snetterton and just focused me on coming to Silverstone.

Ever since we joined the BTCC, the idea was to have a second car and to begin with it was just going to be a normal SEAT, but then we managed to get the new generation Vauxhall engine. And we’re the first to put this engine into a different model of car. It was crazy though, we’d been in discussions with the YourRacingCar.com team, and there were a few names going around but we didn’t really know which driver it was going to be. And the next minute we got a phone call saying it was Phil Glew, he’d signed the contract. So it was then a big push to get the SEAT and NGTC engine ready in time, and try and work on my car! Although we knew the damage to my car was bad, it was even worse than we thought! So yeah, not much time to myself that week, no training at the gym, just flat out all day and most nights to get the cars out.

Phil came up on the Monday to have a look at the car and the guys from Swindon Engines came on Tuesday. They didn’t expect to be there so long, but because it was a new engine they wanted to make sure everything was perfect before firing it up. If it had been me or my dad we would have just pressed the button and just got it going! Anyway it started no problems, but we had no time to take it to a test track, so I just took it for a spin up and down the drive outside the workshop – mint! Luckily we managed to sort out a test at an old airfield down the road from Silverstone for Friday. TOCA were happy to let us do that as it’s a new engine and Phil’s new to the car and to the engine. So the car got a shake down, which was vital – if we hadn’t gone there we’d have had a lot more issues than we did.

First free practice was perfect, Phil did a race-run and my session went well too. Didn’t think I’d be that strong round but finishing the session in ninth, less than three-tenths from the top spot, I was buzzing with the time, just wanted to work on the set-up. But it went completely the other way, and I wasn’t happy then! So qualifying we didn’t know what to expect really, we just took a small step back on the set up so we’d get somewhere near where we were in FP1 and overall I got a good time. I know it was only P12 but it was so close. If I’d have got another tenth I would have been in the top ten, another three- tenths, in the top five. And I was chuffed that I was near the BMWs again. They’ve got the 2010 updates, mine’s an old chassis – so there’s still life in the old girl! We know we can’t compete with the Focuses though but it would be nice if we all had pace like that! Fair play to them though they’ve done well, but it came as no surprise that they were restricted! I wasn’t so happy with the second car though when the drive shaft went on the out-lap and no qualifying time was set – not good for Phil.

For race one, I got a radical start, better start than Shedden who was just in front of me. He went in to the first corner fully sideways and I had to back out a bit. So that meant Pinkney got behind me and he got a bit of a run so I was looking for wherever Nash was, hoping to follow him through and he would make a gap, and I could get through as well. I think we need to invest in a bigger car though – compared to that Vectra which is like a bus, mine’s like a Mini! I don’t want to say this to you again, but it was another frustrating race! From a driver’s point of view when you only get up one place, then that’s taken off you and you end up back where you started in twelfth it’s gutting! Pleased to see Phil get the other car round though with no major issues.

For the second race, we had some set-up issues as I was struggling on the slow sections and as this circuit is so short, if you’ve got these issues, you’re not going to get past anyone! But the team got it spot on – the car was awesome! I got a proper cracking start, nailed Nash and Jackson off the line and up behind Shedden who spun. Then it was just chase, chase, chase! And then, five/six laps in, at turn one there’s been an incident, someone’s spun and the next minute I’ve got Nash (again!) hitting the backend sending me sideways. It was exactly the same as Snetterton – there’s an incident in front and I’ve had to back out of it or drive straight into the guy in front of me. I want to finish the race and so do they, but Nash thinks he’s in a tank! Luckily I was able to save it, but it put me down to sixteenth and I had to really battle to finish the race in twelfth. Phil did well again too finishing just behind me in thirteenth despite having gearbox issues.

I was really fired up for the third race but my car wasn’t! With one minute to go you start your engine and as I went to start up mine it just wouldn’t go. I was panicking like mad! First thing I was thinking was to get the marshals to push me, but we got told on the radio that you can’t be pushed under a green flag. So the team came running down and got me in for a pit lane start. Not had one of them for a long time! I wasn’t sure what was going on either, I just had this marshal with his hand out and then he’s waving me off shouting go, go, go! And next minute there’s a safety car out which played right into my hands. I got a good restart, getting past Plato, who I think had contact with a BMW and then John George. I’ve then got a good run out of Luffield, the last turn, and  came down the inside of Andy Neate, through the pit straight and into the first corner. I’ve gone to turn, he’s turned as well and he’s hit my back wheel. The contact bent my rear sub-frame and so that was the race over. If anyone knows about camber I think the car ended with about 20 degrees of camber on it! Respect to Andy though he came over and apologised afterwards. Phil did brilliantly and was running ninth, but a drive-through penalty for running wide at Copse Corner meant he finished thirteenth, a no-points finish. All weekend everyone had been doing it and they were still all doing it in the last race, but they picked on Phil so we were gutted about that!

Really happy about the weekend though. We’re the first team to put the new generation engine in a different car other than a Vauxhall and have that car, the SEAT Leon, finish all three races. And both cars haven’t had any major damage to the bodywork so it’s less work for me to do at home! Just disappointed about being taken out again and the issue with the starter motor is one we’ve not had before so that was frustrating. The biggest thing is we‘ve got a package that works.

I was a bit down after the third race, so I’m glad to be back home. I can chill out for a while and then we can get the car ready. But I’m looking forward to rollercoaster Knockhill! Sorry I didn’t make it to the BTCC Crazy Tweetup. With all the dramas over the weekend I couldn’t get away. But if they have another one this season I’ll do my best to get to that one!

See you at Knockhill.

Tom #22

Photo Credit: Andy Champness

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.