Q&A with Phil Newby

This season Four Wheel Racing News has joined up with the British Army Motorsport Karting Team and with the new season almost here we thought it would be a good idea to talk to the team manager Phil Newby on his aim and expectations for the British Army Motorsport Karting team in 2013.

Phil, the team is still relatively young but you must be impressed with the impact you have made in the teams’ first full season in 2012?
PN: Absolutely, the aim for 2012 was to get both karts to the finishing line consistently. Then towards the end of the season maybe challenge for a podium. We never thought 12 months on we would be preparing to enter our second full season as defending champions.

What are your targets for 2013 season?
PN: First and foremost we need to continue our hard work on the track to defend our title, which can only happen through hard work and commitment from the whole team. The team is still learning to walk never mind run, so there will be a lot of changes both on and off the track. The team is growing and we have new people joining all the time. As well as success on the track we are trying to build the team image to higher the profile of British Army Motorsport. But as long as we improve on last year I will be more than happy.

What changes have taken place over the winter months?
PN: Where do I start? We have placed an order for the new 2013 karts which hopefully will give us a bit more speed. But the biggest changes have been off track. Due to operational commitments we have had to have a slight reshuffle of the team structure, so a lot of members are having the challenges of new roles within the team. We have a new PR coordinator onboard and we are exploring new avenues to expand the team into new championships and events.

Do you think you can win the Tri Services title again?
PN: We are in a great position to continue where we left off, but now we have a big target on our back. The championship will be harder with the calendar increasing from 5 rounds to 6, so consistency is even more important. It’s too early at this stage to comment on performance. Yes we have improved and we have two new karts for 2013, but what we don’t know is how the other teams have developed over the winter.

So what is next for the team?
PN: The first thing for the team is the 2013 selection day that is due to take place at Tilbury Karting, Essex on Saturday 16th March. Hopefully we will get a lot of new potential drivers from around the Army as well as some old faces from 2012. Everyone will be starting with a clean sheet and I'm hoping to be in a position where I am struggling to select just 8 talented drivers.

We wish the best of luck to Phil and his British Army Motorsport Karting Team for the season ahead. All the news on the team will be at Four Wheel Racing News.