Team Boss David Bartrum mid season interview

Exclusive interview with the big man himself, David Bartrum as he shares his thoughts on the Airwaves BMW team performance so far this season.

LP: We’ve reached the mid point break in the BTCC season now, how do you feel about the Airwaves BMW team’s performance so far?

DB: Reasonably happy, considering it all came together so late, however, like all team bosses I want and expect more. Its part of my make up I suppose. I appreciate good results when they come as it is very hard to achieve them. But, we never sit back and rest on our laurels and we always strive for more. I have to say I was over the moon with Motorbase Performances first ever BTCC 1-2 at Thruxton and to then go on and almost repeat it bar half a lap at our home race at Brands was brilliant. For Steven to be on the podium at every round is fantastic, we now have to keep it going.

LP: Thruxton produced an amazing 1-2 result for the team, how did you all feel that weekend, and do you think you can do it again?

DB: Absolutely elated, it was a landmark for me and the team. It was an excellent pay back for the team after all of the hard work that was put in leading up to that race meeting. After all of the uncertainty over the winter and then to come out at the first race with a result like that was amazing. Can we do it again? We nearly did and yes i do think we can do it again this season. With the driver pairing we have and the team we have I will be disappointed if we can't .

LP: What has been the high point for you over the BTCC season so far?

DB: The first half of the season generally has been a high point. Even though we have struggled with qualifying we still produce a really great race car. We have a break now where we are beavering away behind the scenes to make right where we have been going wrong. We have pin pointed a couple of short falls which we're confident of fixing. We have a good test coming up at Snetterton which is our first proper planned test of the year really. I hope we'll learn what we need to achieve a good second half of the season. We are still a very young team in touring car terms up against some very established teams, most of which have experienced the glory Manufacturer deals at some time or another. It’s something we strive for and I think we've shown this season we're more than capable of mixing it with the 'big boys'.

LP: Do you think the Championship is missing anything without some of the big names from last season, has it affected the level of racing?

DB: The standard this season is higher, it’s closer at the top and there are a large amount of drivers capable of winning races in their own right. Sure we would have liked to have seen Giovanardi & Turkington, but things move on and it allows a new group of individuals to make their mark. Drivers come and go; teams generally stay, as long as they are good enough.

LP: Croft turned out to be a very challenging weekend for Airwaves BMW, what went wrong?

DB: Good question! We have turned over every stone, looked in every corner, no stone left unturned as they say. I feel confident we have found the issues related to Croft and our lack performance in qualifying. The testing should help us confirm our thoughts and then the race meeting will further show us what we have achieved.

LP: Which areas are you going to be concentrating on in the run up to Snetterton?

DB: Qualifying

LP: What do you feel has been the biggest disappointment for the team over the season so far?

DB: Qualifying

LP: Taking the full grid into account, which drivers and teams have surprised you most in the Championship so far, and why?

DB: I would like to turn this question around. The grid has pretty much performed as we thought; there have been a few drivers which have put in some good individual performances. But for the rest of the grid I should think we've been the big surprise, and I don't think you'll find WSR or Rob Collard disagreeing with that. After all our fellow BMW team is always the bench mark for us.

LP: What can we expect to see from Airwaves BMW for the second half of the season?

DB: I would like to think the second half of the season will be much improved with a bit more of the same. Better qualifying, good race results, happy team and continue to go racing the Motorbase way, put a smile on you face and support Motorbase!

LP: What are your hopes/expectations for the rest of the season?

DB: Hope to win the lottery and expect more excellent results and happy days out! We finish the season this year at home at Brands Hatch; let’s hope we finish on a high!