BTCC 2009 preview with Ben Edwards and Alan Hyde (Part one)

Mon 30th March 2009 Between them, Ben Edwards and Alan Hyde have watched and commentated on hundreds of BTCC races. We caught up with them to bring you this exclusive preview of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Alan Hyde (AH) spends his weekends running up and down the BTCC pitlane. His role is to keep the crowd at the track up-to-date with all the latest happenings and to bring something of a ‘behind the scenes’ element to the raceday experience. Meanwhile, Ben Edwards (BE) has the unenviable task of trying to follow all the frantic action and describe it for the ITV viewers watching at home.

There aren’t many people that are able to get as close to the BTCC as Hyde and Edwards, so who better to give their views on the season ahead? Here’s what they had to say:

On the year ahead…

AH: You always know how good the season is going to be when you get to this point and no-one really has a clear idea who is going to win. The idea that we’ve got a new – possibly two - new cars with the Focus with Tom Chilton, that’s an unknown quantity at this stage. It has been known for a brand new hatchback to go into the first meeting of the year and take a win.

BE: With the Civic, I don’t think they’ll do that. I think that car will come on, but I don’t see it winning first time out. Three months...I think they’ve done brilliantly to get here.

AH: Also, as far as Tom Chilton is concerned, he’s back to a team that he’s comfortable with. Mike Earle has looked after him, well there, he’s going to be a different driver this year to the one we’ve seen the last couple of years.

BE: I agree with that. He’s back in a kind of family environment now.

AH: I personally am so happy that 21 cars have signed up for the start of the year for this year, because it is no secret the world over that, financially, everybody is struggling. There is nobody that it hasn’t been hit in some small way. At this stage of the year, to have 21 cars, it almost feels like we’re immune from the problems of the world. We’re not, but this is because people have worked very, very hard to secure the kind of finance they need to do it, so glory to them. It’s mega.

BE: It’s great to see people like John George back for example. I was talking to him and they’ve rushed to get the car together and I think it’s evidence once again of the determination that people have to race in this championship. It’s such a great series to be in. We’ve got Martin Johnson joining the championship as well in one of the older Astra Coupés. There’s some really important privateers – Liam McMillan – 18 years old, family-run team, but going for it.

On Jonathan Adam…

BE: I’m really interested to see how Jonathan Adam gets on. We’ve both seen him come through Clios and SEATs and I really rate the guy. I think he’s a serious talent. I’m really looking for podiums - maybe quite early on - from him.

AH: I’ve been sad for him for three consecutive years, because he’s thought at the end of the year that he’s going to be in a touring car the following year and it hasn’t quite happened. This year it has and he’s got every opportunity to prove it. It’s a wonderful opportunity.

BE: Gordon Shedden was talking about the transition from one-make into touring cars. He said he found it a big step. The first three laps of a touring car race, you can’t be prepared for that from virtually anything else. I actually think Jonathan will adapt very quickly to that.

AH: What about the adaptation, not just from the one make series, but to the car he’s driving this year?

BE: Absolutely, because he’s in a rear-wheel drive BMW. I was looking back over his CV and he did a lot of karting and a fair bit of Formula Ford, so it’s not as if it’s something completely alien. He’s a young driver, he’s very talented and the youngsters adapt very quickly.

AH: Well Mat Jackson did. That’s exactly what he did, coming from the one-make series and into touring cars and what a great job.

On Mat Jackson’s absence...

BE: I do have to say I’m sorry Mat’s not here. Mat Jackson to me is such a talent. Getting that runner-up position in the last meeting of last year; the wins that he had; the guy is a real talent. I just hope that somehow, somebody can put a deal together so that we can see Mat out here.

On Andrew Jordan...

AH: The VX family have been very good at introducing young drivers and teaching them and bringing them on in recent years. Tom Onslow-Cole last year who did better than a lot of people would have predicted in such great company. Andrew Jordan is going to learn so much this year and I reckon he’s going to be quick.

BE: I absolutely agree. I think he’s going to be winning races this year. I think he could be a solid threat throughout the whole season – not just for a few race victories. He’s got the experience now; he’s raced in the championship. His dad is going to be supporting him in the pitlane; he’s going to be reading the races for him. His engineer has come across from their family team as well, so he’s got his own little family unit around him within the VXR camp. I think he’s learning a lot, but I think he’s going to be able beat those guys as well.

AH: That’s one of my only disappointments this year – that we haven’t got dad in a car as well. I think Mike Jordan was such a wonderful addition to this championship, personality-wise. You can talk to anybody in the paddock over the past two or three years and nobody had a bad word to say about Mike.

Click here to read part two of our exclusive BTCC 2009 preview