Dynamics Light up Donington

If Team Dynamics were an animal, it would be a tiger; not just because of its convenient black and orange paint scheme, but because it is sleek, stealthy and a bit of a show-off. Donington Park today was no exception. Who else could bring samurai sword-wielding warriors to the BTCC pitlane?

Dynamics have a history of upstaging the big boys, as BTCC chief Alan Gow knows all too well (Donington Park 1999 - £250k). In 2005 it looks as though they could well do it again. Today’s launch of the two brand new Halfords-sponsored Honda Integras brought a bit of oriental spice to a dreary Donington morning, before Matt Neal lit up the afternoon in equally impressive style, setting the fastest time in the day’s test session.

The Team Halfords launch took place in front of a mass of assembled media and corporate guests, with a performance from Akatsuki Daiko Japanese drummers getting things underway ahead of a samurai display that threatened to cull a few rogue journalists. The bright orange Intregra then emerged from a smoke-filled garage along with drivers Matt Neal and Dan Eaves and their glamorous assistants.

It was a performance that lived up to the fun-loving reputation of TD, but behind the crowd-pleasing exterior is a deadly serious set-up. With a BTCC heritage that goes back to 1992, Steve Neal’s men lack nothing in experience, and they will be looking to take the fight to the works teams in 2005.

But with the second car completed just yesterday, it has been a bit tight in the run-up to the new season. Steve Neal explains, “We’ve actually only had the car out in the wet so far, such has the weather been. We’ve really focused on getting the second car ready, so we haven’t really done as much running as we would have liked.”

The little track-time that the team has enjoyed has been relatively positive though, with a shakedown test at Donington seeing the Integra lap quicker than any BTCC car managed in 2004.

The team principal was also keen to emphasize the progress that has been made over the winter: “Some of the geometry we’ve done on this car is almost getting back towards supertouring type stuff.” Compared to the Civics that the team ran last year, there would seem to be no contest: “We’ve got a new aero kit which is giving us more downforce than we’ve ever had before. We have managed to unleash more power out of the engine as well.”

“We were finding that we weren’t getting the air in to the engine that we should have done. That’s one of the reasons that whatever we got out of it on the dyno never reflected out on the track. I think we’re in for a big surprise this year. We’ve done a lot of engine development work and a lot of chassis development work. It isn’t the Civic with a different body on as some people might suggest. It’s actually a whole new car.”

This afternoon’s session brought a further confidence boost for the team, with Matt setting the fastest time of the day, lapping the cold, dry circuit in 1:12.584, which compares favourably with the 2004 fastest lap of 1:13.706.

“It’s quite surprising really, to end up where we have”, commented Matt after the session. “Not that I’m unhappy about it! I think they’ve all still got plenty more left in the larder though.”

Dan Eaves remains with the team for a second season, albeit with slightly more advanced warning of his drive than last year’s last minute deal. After winning his first BTCC race in 2004, Eaves is hungry for more success: “We’re only here to win races really and in doing that to win the championship. The team have worked really hard over the winter to develop this car so as I said we’re here to win the championship and win races.

“We’ve got a good budget and a good set of people working with the team who have got realms of experience in developing cars so there’s gonna be no shortfall in terms of the finance of it and there’s gonna be no shortfall in terms of experience so all of that put together should keep the car moving forward as the other teams do so hopefully we’ll start off strong and get stronger than everyone else.”

While Matt and Dan both have the same machinery at their disposal in 2005, they won’t necessarily use it in the same way: “One of the problems we’ve got is that both drivers drive entirely different setups”, said Steve. “So they’re going to have to go one route on one car and a totally different route on the other car.”

The team will test at Pembrey on Thursday and Friday this week, before completing a further programme next week ahead of their return to Donington Park for the opening rounds of the championship on April 10th.

By Matt Lamprell