New Vauxhall man gives his thoughts on 2008 deal.
After a rookie season with Team RAC, Tom Onslow-Cole will step into a works seat for the 50th anniversary season of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship after signing up as the third driver for the defending champions VX Racing.
Crash.net Radio caught up with Tom shortly after his deal was confirmed to get his thoughts on the coming season.
Crash.net Radio:
Tom, it's a nice move for you to make. How pleased are you with the switch?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
It's an awesome move for me to get in with Vauxhall this early in my career. To get a full works drive as well is fantastic. I've known since just before Christmas now and it still hasn't really sunk in.
Crash.net Radio:
So it was a nice early Christmas present then?
Oh yeah for sure, I didn't need any presents on Christmas day! I was just buzzing from that and I am really excited about starting testing and getting behind the wheel of the car.
Crash.net Radio:
Tell us a little bit, if you can, about how the deal has come about.
Tom Onslow-Cole:
Negotiations have been going on for a while. We started talking during the season and when things fell down with the RAC, we had this ongoing relationship with Vauxhall and its all fallen together very nicely.
Crash.net Radio:
In your first season you took a win at Snetterton and a few other podium finishes so you would have been in demand as a driver for 2008. What was it about Vauxhall that attracted you to them?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
For me, there isn't a better place to be, with two team-mates who have won three championships between them. But also, the team have won the BTCC title over and over again so the experience is immense. For someone like me in the early stages of my career, it is an unbelievable opportunity to work with the best.
Crash.net Radio:
You mentioned learning from two champions there, but does that bring added pressure as well - that you have two of the top drivers alongside you and people will always compare you to them?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
Yeah I think it does, but the way I look at it, it will put the pressure on them. They have both won the title while I am the new guy coming in. So if I am hot on their heels then they are in trouble!
Crash.net Radio:
When do you expect to get your first taste of the car?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
At the end of the month we have a five day test planned so it is a good chance for me to get used to the car. It's more pre-season testing than I'll have ever done before so I'm looking forward to that.
Crash.net Radio:
One big change is from rear-wheel drive back to front-wheel drive. After a year making progress with the BMW, how easy will it be to make the switch back?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
I think it will be ok. Front-wheel drive is what I know and from my years in Clios, it is what I learnt with. The transition to rear-wheel drive was a big change but it didn't take me that long to get used to it and I don't think it will be hard to go back. I've never driven a front-wheel drive touring car before which is a whole different kettle of fish, but I have those days of testing and I'm sure I can get the hang of it pretty quick.
Crash.net Radio:
What do you anticipate being the biggest difference between a front-wheel drive touring car and a rear-wheel drive one?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
I think that front-wheel car will use its tyres more aggressively than the BMW did so you have to pace yourself. I think it's just a case of learning the qualifying and race procedures as driving and car control will come naturally. For qualifying there is a lot of heating tyres up and cooling others down before you go for a fast time so I need to get my head round that.
Crash.net Radio:
And that isn't maybe something you want when you've admitted that qualifying was your Achilles heel in 2007….
Tom Onslow-Cole:
I think it will make it better for me to be honest. Qualifying was hard last year as we didn't have that procedure and didn't have that technique to keep the tyres hot all round the car. This is a bit of an answer to the problems I had last year and improving my qualifying is something I am going to focus on.
Crash.net Radio:
When we spoke to you before Christmas, you said a realistic aim was to go for wins and the title if you got the right drive. Now it's done and out in the open, is that still the focus?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
Definitely. My first focus at the moment is testing and getting to know the car so that I can hit Brands Hatch running. I want to be up there right away and my aim is to go for the title. At the moment, I feel that it is realistic, but we'll see how it goes.
Crash.net Radio:
So you want it to three champions in the Vauxhall line-up come 2009?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
That would be a fantastic line-up and is something I would be so proud to do. It's already a dream to be in the BTCC and I realised that dream last year. Joining Vauxhall is another dream and everything is happening at the moment, so hopefully the championship won't be far away.
Crash.net Radio:
Are you more determined to succeed because this is the 50th anniversary of the BTCC and to be champion would be a more special achievement?
Tom Onslow-Cole:
It would be, but it isn't something I have really thought about. If you sit down after winning it then it would be a big thing and it is something you would be remembered for, but as drivers we are always focused on winning and I'll be pushing to do the best I can this year.
