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.