An Interview with National Banger driver the Entertainer 912 Kieran Greenway
(interview published June 18 in the lead up to round four of the 2014 National Banger BBA British Championship on June 28)

Age: 20
Home Town: Dunmow
Occupation: Unemployed
Family: Girlfriend Leanne
Racing career: Started racing, aged 13 at Henham in Junior Bangers

It has just been confirmed that there is a place for you on the British Championship grid as one of the RDC reserves, are you pleased?
Yes, very much. It was an aim of mine to try and get in the race this year. I came so close to winning in 2012 and then I was a bit disappointed to not qualify last year but I just had really bad luck all season, especially in the qualifying rounds and so it never happened. It’s still a tough race to qualify for because the qualifying rounds are usually well attended and pretty hard meetings and I think that was the case again this year so it’s nice to have made it, even if it wasn’t through the top 12 which was the target.

Were you disappointed to not make the top 12?
A little bit. You shouldn’t think like that because you can never take anything for granted in banger racing can you but I really tried hard to qualify and even made the effort to do one of the rounds at Dover, not that it did any good because I got run in (laughs). I’d hoped by doing Dover it would take a bit of pressure off at the final round at Mildenhall and then I didn’t have much luck at Mildenhall and so ended (the series) as one of the reserves. But again, it’s hard to qualify for this race so you can never expect anything, you just have to do your best and hope it’s enough and thankfully in the end it was.

What is it about the British Championship that has such an appeal for you?
There are a few things really. I like racing Mondeos and it’s the biggest race of the year for them at Mildenhall, it’s my home track so that obviously makes it special as well but I think coming so close to winning two years ago is a big reason why I wanted to be in the race so much, I suppose it’s a little like unfinished business and I really wanted another stab at it.

Looking back to the 2012 race, do you look back with frustration at how close you came to winning or pride at still getting a top result despite all that was thrown at you?
A bit of both I guess but I think it is more frustration because I was out front and it looked like I was going to do it but that’s banger racing isn’t it. You never know what’s going to happen or what anyone else is going to do and you’ve never won until you’ve won so it’s good I’m back in the race again this year and have another chance.

How do you rate your chances?
I think they are ok. I’ve moved myself forward a bit since the last time I was in the race. A lot of your success is down to the work you do before you even get to the track. One of the things I’ve started to do is (lock the diff) on my Mondeos and that’s made a big difference. It’s not the easiest job, certainly not as easy as doing it to a rear wheel drive car but it’s been well worth the effort for me and made a big difference to my performance so that’s one example. Again a lot of it if down to how much you put in at the yard and if you don’t put the time and effort in you probably won’t get anywhere. As for the race, it’s a lottery but if I can get a decent draw I think I’ll have a chance.

Do you think the draw is important?
Very, I think it would be very hard to win from towards the back because there is so many good drivers in this race that there is going to some top drivers near the front and if you are at the back it will be very hard to catch them.

Is there anyone you think is a standout contender for this year’s race?
I think most of the people in it are going to be a contender. You’ve got to be good just to qualify and almost everyone in the race is going to be wanting to try and win it so everyone will have the same thing on their mind and that’s what makes it such a hard race.

Looking to other things you are booked in for the unlimited van meeting the week before the British, you’ve done this meeting before, are you looking forward to doing it again?
I am, it’s something different and a bit of fun and that’s what (racing) is all about so it will be good to do it again and hopefully get a few crashes in before getting my racing head on the next weekend at the British (laughs).

We’ve seen a lot more of your crashing side in the last year or so, is there a particular reason for this?
I’m not sure really. I think a lot of it was from all the bad luck I was having last year and getting a little frustrated so rather than chasing that I started crashing a bit more and it got me enjoying the sport a lot more again and not getting so frustrated when things went wrong when I was trying to win races. I also think sometimes it’s easier to win an entertainer award than to win a race (laughs). Or maybe that just me! But the crowd definitely enjoy the crashing more and when you hear them cheering when you’ve done a hit, that is the best feeling.

You’ve certainly caught several people’s eyes racing your two Rolls Royce Silver Shadows, have you enjoyed these?
Yes, very much, they were great, even though they were plenty of work. The cars are awesome, they are just as fast as anything else and I’ve had some really good meetings with them. The unlimited Icebreaker was the best though. It was a big disappointment going from being in a full team to being the only one there on the day but to win the final, nearly as the last car running was just fantastic and then I finished third overall despite having no team mates which was amazing.

Have you any plans for the rest of the season?
I’ve got a car for the (unlimited) Suffolk Open but I’ve not started work on it yet and I’d like to do the Ipswich World Final again. One meeting I’m looking forward to is the Accumulator Championship and White and Yellow Grade Series Final in October. I’m already in the Accumulator and should be ok for the White and Yellow Grade Final and my aim this year was to try and win some title of any description, that would mean a lot to me and I think that night I could have a decent chance of doing it.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My dad for all his support and everything he does to help fund my racing especially and also all the people who cheer when I have a crash because it’s such a cool feeling when you hear that.