An Interview with 186 George Turiccki

You certainly have plenty going for you heading into this year's championship, Mildenhall track championship leader, pole position, winner of the July 28 final and the last World of Shale Championship winner at Mildenhall. Do you think that makes you a favourite or a marked man?
(laughs) I think it will make me a marked man if anything. I'd say it's safe to say there is no such thing as a favourite in this race, there are so many good drivers out there who are capable of winning it, but whenever you start on pole, everyone is kind of gunning for you.

With that in mind, do you expect the first bend to be a rough one?
It's impossible to tell. To be honest I'm not too sure it will, because a lot of the drivers will be looking to get out of the first bend in on piece and race and I'm not sure too many will be looking to go for the big one on the first bend and risk wiping themselves out as well. Everyone at the front of the grid is going to fancy their chances of winning this and they won't win if they get wiped out on the first lap. But then again you just don't know do you, I think a lot of it could depend on what Andrew Palmer does behind me, more often than not the guy on the inside of the second row has a big say in what happens on the first bend so he'll play a big role.

Are you please with your grid position?
I am. It's always hard starting a race on pole position but there are some advantages as well. My main goal going into the last round was to try and get to the top of the table because I wanted to start on the inside row rather than the outside row. I've been second to Chris Bradbury pretty much the whole way through the qualifying series and starting on the outside of the front row I think is perhaps the hardest place to start so I'm glad I've got the inside. Also it gives me a little control over the start and I'll be able to set the pace a bit which I think might help. Any advantage you can get in a race like this is going to be important, hopefully I'll be able to get away.

The last time the championship was held at Mildenhall there were some high profile casualties on the first bend (401 Barry Goldin and 702 Allen Cooper). Could we see the same again here?
Yes we certainly could but again everyone who fancies their chances of winning will be looking to not get taken out on the first bend so it will be interesting to see what everyone does, it's going to be exciting that's for sure.

Who do you think are the leading contenders?
There are so many because right now there are so many good and quick drivers on shale. I think everyone on the first couple of rows, Bradbury, Palmer and 823 Sam Wagner certainly and also 871 Mark Simpson who is always a big threat when he races. I think the Dutch drivers are likely to be a factor as well, especially H30 Toon Schut on the third row because he is really fast and knows Mildenhall very well. He could have won the World Final at King's Lynn a couple of years ago so I think he really will be one to watch.

As a former winner of this event, how special is the World of Shale Championship to you?
For a shale driver this is the World Final, it is the most important race of the season for the shale drivers without a doubt and winning it has been the highlight of my career so far. I would just like to see the championship have more recognition in the sport because at the moment I don't think it has the amount it deserves. Personally I think the winner should have a gold roof as well or failing that should be able to have thicker stripes that I had when I had the championship.

What is your goal for this year's race and how special would it be to win the championship again?
My goal really is just to finish. I think whenever you have a race like this, with so many top drivers you can't go into it expecting anything more because no one knows what is going to happen. It would be brilliant to win the championship again, there aren't actually that many drivers who have won this race over the years which makes winning it before all the more special, especially as I believe I was the youngest winner as well, but to do it again would be fantastic.

Is there anyone you would to thank or mention?
My mum and dad, my girlfriend Gemma, Oz, Sworder Commerical Salvage, Lyndale Race Engines, AJ Thompson, TMR Supplies and Sian and Pippa for making my meetings at Mildenhall entertaining.