GOW TAKES THE WHEEL TO GET DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE

‘I COULDN’T SPIN THE WHEELS. THAT IS AMAZING FOR A FRONT-WHEELDRIVE CAR – NO TORQUE-STEER’ ALAN GOW

BTCC series director Alan Gow got the chance to sample an Ngtc-spec car at Snetterton recently, when he got behind the wheel of

Rob Austin’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The Australian, who has a racing background, took part in a session during the annual tyre test, and admits the experience has given him an interesting new perspective.

His first job was to open the book of racingdriver excuses. “I made a mistake by going out on cold, brand new, unscrubbed tyres,” he says. “I had no idea that it had so little grip in the rear. I did two laps and I think I spun at about 10mph because there was no grip. I was laughing inside the car. Then I did the crossover [front to rear] and then another few laps to get them up to speed, so I wasted time. I only really got five laps, so I was just learning and I didn’t get to 100%.”

Despite that, there were elements of the hatchback that he was impressed with immediately: “The things that really surprised me about the car was the initial turn-in – it was great, plenty of grip – and the brakes were really good. The grip just got me. Coming out of the corners, I couldn’t spin the wheels up once. And that is amazing for a front-wheeldrive car – there was no torque-steer.”

Once the excuse book was closed, Gow, who had lapped around 10 seconds off the times of the fastest drivers in his session, noted something else interesting.

“The rearward vision was excellent – there is no excuse for someone saying they didn’t see someone behind them!” he laughs. “I have a much greater understanding of what the guys go through.

“I know what they go like now, but not on the limit, but I get the dynamics of driving them so I can probably relate to things a bit better.”

Austin went through the onboard data with Gow afterwards. He has some observations too: “I think he was about as majestic as a scared cat. Seriously, I think he did well because there was a lot of pressure: the whole paddock was watching and waiting for him to do something silly. The only silly things he did were round the back – and I have the onboards!

“What was interesting was that when he got out, he said it was a very hostile environment. He had a bit of a moment but he couldn’t remember which corner or which lap: he was guessing. It wasn’t until we watched the onboard we saw which lap it was. Hopefully that gives Alan an insight into what adrenalin does for you. It’s hard, when you speak to the officials sometimes to explain an incident, to remember exactly, and I think he will recognise that now.”