General News

Newsham, Wood in Speedworks test

Dave Newsham and Lea Wood will both test for the Speedworks Motorsport team at Leicestershire's Donington Park circuit tomorrow (Thursday).

Newsham and Wood both produced giant-killing acts in privately-entered older-spec Vauxhall Vectras in this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the former achieving two race wins.

Now comes a chance for both to sample a latest-spec NGTC machine, namely Speedworks’s Toyota Avensis (as raced by Tony Hughes and Paul O’Neill this season).

Christian Dick, boss of the Cheshire-based squad, told btcc.net: “It’s an opportunity for us to evaluate them both for next year – it’d be great to run at least one of them, but obviously we only have so many places in our squad. This, though, enables them to meet the team and for us to see what they are about.

“Dave has been very quick all year and there were the two wins in older-spec Vectra. Likewise Lea was very quick but had some bad luck. Both are impressive characters and we’re looking forward to working with them tomorrow.”

Inverness racer Newsham commented: “I’m looking forward to my first drive in an NGTC car as much as I did my first ever BTCC test because I’ve been racing against them all year!

“I’m currently chatting to several teams with nothing definite. I think Speedworks are a cracking outfit and I’ve been to their workshops in Cheshire and it’s all very impressive. They’ve also after two seasons with the Toyota probably ironed out all the bugs and Paul O’Neill really showed what the car could do at Knockhill (pictured). Let’s just see where it leads...”

And added Hereford’s Wood: “I’m very excited about getting a go in one of these cars at last. After two seasons of running with my own team it’ll also be interesting to see how things work in another team’s pit garage. I’ve watched Speedworks improve in competitiveness in 2012 and like the way they present themselves. I’m trying to keep the momentum going into the off season. This is a big moment for me…”