An Interview with 606 Andrew Palmer

This will be your 14th time in a World of Shale Championship, is it still a race you look forward to?
Of course it is, it's one of the highlights of the year for me and I think it's the same for the majority of the shale racers because for us, it's basically our World Final race.

You've had a mixed season and not enjoyed the kind of form at Mildenhall we've seen from you in the past and this was evident at the final round where you had a pretty luckless afternoon which resulted in you having to settle for third place in the World of Shale qualifying series, are you happy with your grid position?
Yes I am because I honestly think as long as you are in the top four or five or at least on the front few rows you are ok. The last four or five years I think I've been on the front row and sometimes it has worked and sometimes it hasn't so we'll have to see how we get on from the second row. I secretly wonder is Chris (Bradbury) might have missed the last round hoping to start on the second row thinking me and George (Turiccki) would have good days and pass him in the points but it didn't work out because I had a bad day but if I do well in the championship instead then it will be worth it! The thing with Mildenhall, which you don't get at most other tracks is that after three or four laps the leader is going to be in traffic so being up front doesn't hold quite the same advantage it might have at another track where it would give you a clear road for up to half the race.

Have you given much thought as to how you will play the first bend, many would suggest the driver on the inside of row two, holds a lot of the cards!
I honestly haven't. You can never plan in this game, the only driver who can have a plan is George (Turiccki) on pole position but the rest of us just have to see what happens and try and respond to it. To be fair I've Toon Schut starting on my back bumper and we've had plenty of battles recently so it could be that he holds all the cards this time and whatever I do on the first bend could be more determined by what he does!

Again you've had mixed form at Mildenhall this season, is that something that concerns you at all heading into this race?
No not really, we know the car is good, we've just not had the luck sometimes and that is just stockcar racing. I've got a new car this year and it has been a learning curve, it's been difficult at times but we feel we are getting there now and things are improving. I was winning the final at Mildenhall on July 27 and the car was absolutely flying but I got taken out by a back marker so even though the results make it look like we had a bad night, we know that while I didn't get the result that the car was performing well and that is important. It was the same at the British Championship (at King's Lynn) in May. I put the car on pole position because in the heats everything was going brilliantly but come the championship the luck just wasn't with me. That's racing. Also this year, racing hasn't been the number one thing in my life, I've just bought a house and so a lot of time and money has gone into that and racing has had to take a back step this year so all things considered I'm quite pleased with how the year has gone for me, I'm enjoying it which is the most important thing and I'm looking forward to this one.

A lot of people have commented about the quality of the starting grid, who do you think are the leading contenders?
There are a lot aren't there! I would like to think I've a chance but there are plenty of others. Everyone else on the front two rows (George Turiccki, Chris Bradbury and Sam Wagner) are definitely going to be in there and again I think Toon Schut is one to watch, also Rob Speak. Even though he's a few rows back it won't take long for him to get up there and he is certain to make an impact one way or another.

Having mentioned Toon Schut, as a veteran of this event, how do you feel about the recent changes to the championship and the inclusion of the overseas drivers?
I think it's great and having the overseas drivers especially makes it more of a World event. You can never count Toon out and I really think he could be one to watch here and also Wim Peeters. He is very quick but he does make mistakes which could be his downfall but if he doesn't I think he will surprise a lot of people here.

You have raced a great deal overseas this year including at the new track in Austria and it is hoped that in time drivers from there will compete in this event as well. Is that something you would like to see?
Why not? It's good out there, they have the equipment but the drivers are still learning their track craft but it will come in time, in the short space of time they have been racing they are already improving so I'm sure in time they could compete in this race and hold their own.

As a four time winner of this event are you at all mindful of Bert Finnikin's record of six World of Shale Championships and is that something you would like to break?
Very much, it is a big goal of mine to win more World of Shale titles that Bert did. I haven't a number in my mind of times I would like to do it or anything like that but I would very much like to try and break his record, hopefully I'll get one closer this year.

In recent years many have suggested the quality of the starting grid for this event has got better and better, is that something you agree with and how tough does this year's grid look when compared to previous ones?
Yes I think that is very much the case. When I won my first title you could maybe pick four or five really strong contenders from the line up and I think over the years this number has gradually increased and this year is perhaps the toughest yet because almost everyone out there has the ability to do well and because there is so little between each driver at the moment, it's going to be a very close and competitive race.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or mention?
All of my crew and family for their help and support and also Bingley Engines, Ellingsworth Garage, Hewil and Lenssden Motorsport for their sponsorship.