An Interview with Saloon Stockcar driver Tucker 214 Tom Yould
(interview published October 7 2014 in the lead up to the White and Yellow Grade Series Final at Mildenhall on October 18)

Age: 23
Home Town: Spalding
Occupation: Lorry mechanic
Family: Girlfriend Kayleigh
Racing career: Started racing Junior Rods at Skegness aged 14

Congratulations on topping the white and yellow grade qualifying points at Mildenhall, you will now start the series final on pole position on October 18, firstly how do you feel about your starting place and was topping the qualifying points a target for you this season?
Trying to win the series final has really been a target of mine for this season. I’ve had some good results in the white and yellow grade races at both Mildenhall and King’s Lynn this year and that has given me the boost I think to give me the confidence that I have a good chance in this race and winning the points and securing pole position is a big bonus, at least whatever happens now I’ve won the points series so that’s something but I would like very much to win the final as well now. I’ve had a bit of bad luck this season so I’m hoping I’m due a bit of good fortune and this could be it, winning the series final would be a great way to end the year and would also be a big boost to head into 2015. As for my grid position, I’m not too sure it will make the greatest of difference because whenever you have a closed grid I think anyone stands a chance of winning so with that in mind you might as well be on pole (laughs).

One of the advantages of starting on pole position is you control the start of the race, do you think that is an advantage?
It can be if you get it right. I think if you nail the start correctly then it can be an advantage and help you get through the first couple of laps in one piece at least but if you make a mistake and get it even slightly wrong that it could be disastrous. If you miss a gear at the start then everyone will be all over you and there is a very good chance you won’t even make it through the first bend (laughs). I think also there is a little bit of extra pressure being on pole but that’s only because of the advantages and disadvantages I mentioned, if you can control it all well and get away clean it should help you out. I was on pole position for the English Championship at Mildenhall last year and that didn’t go well at all so hopefully I will have learned some things from that race (laughs) and this one will be a little bit better. I’m not sure it could be any worse!

Do you expect the series final to be a good race?
I don’t think there is such a thing as a bad race in Saloon Stockcars but I think whenever you have a closed grid for the start there is even less of a chance of a bad race myself. Even though it’s the white and yellow grade series final there are still some really good drivers in it. I think there are some excellent drivers in the lower grades who for one reason or another aren’t in the higher grades more regularly and you always get one or two top drivers who’ve had a bad run and done a couple of meetings in the year in the yellows who qualify coming from the back which adds to the excitement. I think these races are usually pretty exciting because you have a good mix of drivers and most of them will fancy their chances and add in the closed grid and it should be good. Closed grids are always excellent in Saloons, whenever I’m in a race with one you find your heart beats that little bit faster and there is a bit more adrenaline pumping, it’s always exciting.

The 2014 season is starting to come to a close now, looking back are you pleased with how the year has gone for you?
Yes and no. It’s been a very up and down season for me and I’ve struggled to find a real consistency and that is my big aim for 2015, just to be more consistent and to try and avoid having bad meetings if I can. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had several good meetings where the car has gone well and I’ve driven well and in some ways I think when things go well I’m as good as I can be at this point but I need to be that good all the time and not just on the odd occasions. That’s the difference between me and the top drivers I think because they are good all the time and just never have bad meetings and that’s what I need to try and aim for. The thing with Saloons though is I think you only have so much say in that because it’s such a hard formula that if your luck isn’t in that night then it doesn’t matter how good you or the car is, you’re having a bad night (laughs). I’ve also had a lot of engine problems this year and that’s not helped matters at all so I’m hoping that is all behind me now, if I can get everything to come together I see no reason why 2015 can’t be a better year for me. One of my targets this season was to get to the blue grade and that never happened which I’m a little disappointed about so that’s an even bigger target for 2015.

Next season sees several championship races being held on shale including the World Final at Mildenhall, is that a target?
It would be fantastic to qualify for the race. I don’t think I’m at the level yet to be in with a chance of trying to win a championship like that but I managed to scrape into the World Final this year by the last chance races and it would be awesome to qualify for the race again. Just to be in a race like that is a huge buzz and I’d love to do it again.

This is your second full season in the formula having moved in from 1300cc Stockcars, do you now feel fully established in Saloons?
I do in a way but I’m not sure you ever feel like you are fully settled in the formula just because it’s such a good and hard formula so it always keeps you on your toes and you always feel like you are learning something but that is one of the best things about the formula. Towards the end of my time in the 1300cc Stockcars I really felt I had achieved all I could and was ready for another challenge and I’m honestly not sure that I will ever feel that way about Saloons. I know I’m still pretty new but the amount you learn each and every meeting is just amazing and every meeting and race is so different to the next. Again towards the end of my time in the 1300s it was getting to a point where the start of a race would be a little different every time but after that it would get fairly predictable and you would have a pretty good idea of what would happen next. That couldn’t be further from the racing in the Saloons, ever race, every lap and bend is totally different to the last one and that’s one of the reasons why I’m enjoying the formula so much because it’s such a challenge and everything is so new and exciting each time we race.

The remainder of the October 18 meeting is a tribute event to the retiring Paul Tuppen and as such there is such additional prize money thanks to our sponsors, currently to the tune of £800, is that something you are looking forward to and what are your thoughts about how thinly the additional prize fund is being spread?
It’s always fantastic whenever any sponsors put anything extra into the racing. It gives you a little extra to race for and if you have a result it means you get a better reward and that all helps at the end of the day and makes a big difference. As for how the money is being used, I guess it depends on what kind of night you have (laughs). If you win every race then you’d wish the money all went to the winner but I think it probably is much better to have it spread around a lot more, I suspect I might do better out of it that way (laughs). This way at least a few people will have the benefit and get a little extra and I think having the grade awards is good because the lower graded drivers put just as much into their racing as anyone but sometimes, for whatever reason, they don’t get the results so it’s nice they have something extra to race for.

A question we’ve asked many stockcar drivers this year is about the practise of using red flags to stop races which is commonly the case at Mildenhall, do you agree with red flags being used or do you think waved yellows are sufficient?
Absolutely red flags should be used when needed. If there is a driver who might be in danger then the race should be stopped immediately and the quickest way is with red flags. As a driver if I’m in trouble I want to see a red flags because for me, when you see it you know the race has been stopped whereas when a waved yellow flags is shown and you are the driver in trouble you are still waiting them to stop if that makes sense.

In that case, what are your thoughts on the different restart procedures for restarts after a red and yellow flag?
I think it should be the same whatever flag is used to stop the race but I actually think the race should be restarted like it is when a red flag is shown with the back markers moved to the back. I can see both sides of it but when the back markers are left in place it gives them an opportunity to take a leader out which I don’t completely agree with. I think it’s different when it’s the guy in second if that makes sense.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My mate Jay who mechanics for me. Like I said I’ve had a difficult year and when it’s been bad and I’ve been frustrated he’s copped the brunt of it but he’s stuck with me and I really appreciate it because I’d honestly struggle without him. Also my dad as without him I would never be racing, my girlfriend Kayleigh who puts up with my main focus in life being racing and all my sponsors.