WTCC Driver Alex MacDowall reveals he 'can challenge for the independent title and outright podiums'

Motortrades Insight Magazine Online About Us Contact Us

Home Finance Reviews Under The Hood Motorsport Business Profiles Archive Jobs I am looking for in Get your business listed Related Tags: Alex MacDowall , World Touring Car Championship , Q&A, Touring Car, Motorsport, Racing Car, BTCC WTCC Driver Alex MacDowall reveals he 'can challenge for the independent title and outright podiums' By: Danny Hewitt Ref:A00097 Published: 2 April 2013 Alex_MacDowall

22-year-old World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver Alex MacDowall, from Carlisle, finished an impressive 11th in his debut season last year in the leading international touring car series.With Cambridge's Robert Huff winning in 2012, Alex has set his sights high and has far greater ambitions for 2013, hoping to win podiums and shock the world by becoming the highest placed independent driver.Last season, the highest placed independent (non-manufacturer) driver was 50-year-old Italian Gabriele Tarquini, who finished fourth despite winning the title with Seat in 2009.Danny Hewitt speaks to the Bamboo Engineering driver. What got you into motorsport? Why touring cars? From a very early age, I used to go to circuits with my dad who competed in various national saloon car championships, including BTCC. What makes you so fast? That's a difficult question. I guess it's a mixture of natural ability, self-belief, a clear focus on achieving results and a determination to succeed. Yvan Muller tapped the rear of Alex's car in Macau - the final race of 2012 - where Alex was in contention for a win:Can you tell us about the diet of a touring car driver? My trainer dictates my weekly diet plan which is aligned to my training programme for each week, it can be quite limiting at times. A day in the life of Alex MacDowall... My day varies depending where I am. In between events, when I'm at home, I mix my time between researching and meeting with sponsors, helping out at a local logistics firm, ECM, who are also one of my sponsors and training. WTCC involves a lot of travel, if I'm travelling or away from home, I have to adjust my training programme to suit.. What are the most challenging aspects of being a WTCC driver? Jet lag was a new challenge for me in WTCC last year. It can really affect your physical and mental performance. I'll be much better prepared this year. But the real challenge is the level of competition, in WTCC you're up against the current best touring car drivers and teams in the world. Tell me about your ambitions and plans for the coming year. We're very close to sealing a deal which will enable me to be very competitive in WTCC. How do you see 2013 panning out for you? I feel it could be a very good year for me. I believe that with the circuit and set-up knowledge we gained from last year, I can challenge for the independents title and for outright podiums. What would you like to change or improve in the sport? Touring car racing is relatively safe but accidents still occur which result in loss of life. I'd like to see further improvements in safety. I also think that the proposed changes to the cars for the 2014 WTCC will add to the excitement and spectacle of the championship. What are the biggest changes in the sport that will impact you this season? More competition from factory teams including Honda and Lada. You were very successful in the Renault Clio Cup, but Renault has suffered from a 40 per cent drop in sale sin the last year. Are people simply bored of Renault? The Clio Championship is really tough and a natural stepping stone towards touring cars. I think it will always be popular. I think support for it in 2013 will increase. How do Yokohama tyres compare to Dunlop and Goodyear tyres in your experience? And where could there be improvements? They both have their strengths and weaknesses, I can't draw a true comparison between the two makes of tyre because the nature of the circuits that we raced on in the UK with the Dunlops is different to those on the WTCC tour. Was it a little intimidating racing alongside Jason Plato in his Championship-winning year in 2010? No! I admire Jason very much, he is undoubtedly one of the best touring car drivers in the world and I learned a lot from him during my two seasons with RML. A step back to BTCC when Alex interviews teammate and 2010 World Champion Jason Plato: Secret obsession... Can't say - it wouldn't be a secret! Favourite pastime... Clubbing with friends. Pet hate... Queuing. The person you most treasure... I'd be in trouble if I didn't say my Mum! Best road car under £15,000... A used M3. If you were not a touring car driver, what would you be doing? I don't like to think about it - racing is the only thing I want to do. Are winter tyres for ordinary road users necessary? In a typical UK winter, I don't think so but they do significantly improve grip. Alex_MacDowall

Debut season: 2012Current team: bamboo-engineeringStarts: 24Wins: 0Poles: 0Fastest laps: 0Best finish: 11th in 2012 Related Articles // More Like This dummy

Jason Plato and Matt Neal top the podium in Kent as British Touring Car Championship kicks off with Easter spectacular at Brands Hatch Jason Plato leads this season’s British Touring Car Championship after taking two wins from the opening three races of the season on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in the quaint countryside of Kent.M dummy

Industry leaders set to gather at Europe's largest motorsports and engineering trade show THE WORLD'S motoring industry leaders will gather under one roof to show off their latest innovations and products this week.In what had been described as Europe's largest dedicated motorsport trade dummy

HOW TO MAKE A RACING TYRE: Goodyear and Dunlop give an exclusive tour of iconic motorsport tyre factory GOODYEAR AND DUNLOP has given Motortrades Insight a rare and exclusive tour of its motor racing tyre factory in Birmingham, where a 350-strong workforce make tyres for some of the world's most 123 « Previous Article Next Article »

News 24/7 MotorTrades Insight are now official news providers for NewsNow. Top Stories // This Week toyota-reveals-new-collision-avoidance-and-motorway-driving-assistance-technology

Toyota reveals new collision avoidance and motorway driving assistance technology. Toyota has revealed two new integrated safety systems designed to reduce the risk of pedestrian collisions and deliver safer driving in traffic.It has developed a new auto-steering function for its ... subaru-levorg-concept-to-make-world-debut-at-tokyo-motor-show

Subaru Levorg concept to make world debut at Tokyo Motor Show. The Subaru Levorg concept will make its world premiere at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday, November 20.The Levorg concept hints at a new vehicle currently under development for market launch ... major-automotive-technology-conference-to-take-place-on-eve-of-wales-rally-gb

Major automotive technology conference to take place on eve of Wales Rally GB. Wales’ premiere automotive technology conference will take place in North Wales on the eve of Wales Rally GB.Just as the World Rally Championship is the showcase for advanced motor sport technology,... road-accidents-caused-by-sun-glare-jump-12-per-cent-in-a-year

Road accidents caused by sun glare jump 12 per cent in a year. According to newly published data concerning road traffic accidents in the UK, there has been a 12 per cent increase in accidents resulting from dazzling sun affecting motorists’ vision.Figures take... volvo-creates-revolutionary-batteries-that-can-be-hidden-inside-carbon-fibre-body-panels

Volvo creates 'revolutionary' batteries that can be hidden inside carbon fibre body panels. Volvo has developed what it describes as 'a revolutionary concept' for lightweight structural energy storage components that could improve the energy usage of future electrified vehicles. The m... electric-kia-soul-is-coming-to-britain

Electric Kia Soul is coming to Britain. The all-electric version of the new Kia Soul is definitely coming to the UK, but the company is still debating whether the batteries will be part of the sales package or supplied on a monthly lease ... magical-arsenals-olivier-giroud-aaron-ramsey-per-mertesacker-and-wojciech-szczesny-star-in-citroens-latest-publicity-stunt

Magical: Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Wojciech Szczesny star in Citroen's latest pub. Citroën, Arsenal Football Club's automotive sponsor, has unveiled a new campaign featuring four of its most prominent players. Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Wojciech Szczesny sta... mercedes-benz-launches-daimer-fleet-management

Mercedes-Benz launches Daimer Fleet Management. Daimler Fleet Management has been launched, delivering what Mercedes-Benz hope to be 'greater choice and flexibility' to both new and existing fleet customers.The news comes as Mercedes-Benz in the ... zircotec-launches-tough-thermal-barrier-exhaust-coatings-for-motorbikes

Zircotec launches tough thermal barrier exhaust coatings for motorbikes. Tougher than the standard automotive coatings, Zircotec’s new Endurance Range has been specifically formulated to provide motorcycle riders with a durable novel surface finish that minimises rust on... number-of-cars-built-in-britain-increases-in-september-as-europe-sees-new-registrations-rocket

Number of cars built in Britain increases in September as Europe sees new registrations rocket. The UK saw car production rise by nearly ten per cent in September in comparison to one year previously. Overall, UK car production for the year stands at 1,125,433 – 3.9 per cent more than thi... ex-fleet-car-values-rocket-by-56-per-cent-in-september

Ex-fleet car values rocket by 5.6 per cent in September. Prices of ex-fleet cars at auction rose for the first time in three months, with values increasing by £390 (or 5.6 per cent) during September.September witnessed the average price of ex-fleet vehicl... Company Info // Get in Touch © Motortrades Insight Limited 2012 - 2013 Tel: 0844 656 1808 Email: accounts@motortradesinsight.co.uk Motortrades Insight Limited trading as motortradesinsight.co.uk Registered Address The Coach House Baddow Park West Hanningfield Road Great Baddow Chelmsford Essex CM2 7SY Company Reg: 07302221 VAT No: 120173663 Links // On The Web >> >> Subscribe to Mailing List >> Advertise on Motortrades Insight >> Motorsport News >> >> Motoring Industry News >> Blog >> Used Car Buyers Guide >> Link To Us >> Ratecard >> Privacy Policy >> Terms and Conditions >> Disclaimer Twitter // Follow Us Cookies on Motortrades Insight

Like many popular websites, Motortrades Insight uses some third party widgets that may set and may have already set cookies, for example the Twitter feed on our homepage. For more information see our cookie policy. By clicking close and continue you agree to our use of cookies.