Q&A: Mike Nicholson.

Mike Nicholson, Vauxhall's Motorsport Operations Manager, spoke exclusively to Crash at this week's 2002 BTCC launch, the marque out to defend the titles they won last season with their dominant Astra Coupes. We asked Mike how the team were going to follow their successes, and where did he se the opposition coming from...

Mike, how do Vauxhall follow their 'perfect' season in 2001?

Mike Nicholson: "It's going to be difficult. There's a lot more competition this year, which we're very pleased about to be honest with you.

"We won 25 out of 26 races last year, nearly won the 26th one as well, it sort of got a little embarrassing after a while, so it's good that we've got the MGs here, the Proton and the Hondas. They're all going to catch up pretty quick, so we're going to have to be on our toes and work hard to keep ahead of them."

Last year, the first with the new rules structure, it seemed as if Vauxhall were carrying the championship for a while. This year you have more opposition and more manufacturers to race against - is that a situation you prefer?

MN: "Yes we do. It's much the better situation for us, it gives us a good reason to be here. I must admit that, from a personal point of view, last year it got a little boring! I'm a very competitive person and I like to think that we're going to have a hard time of it this season. Last year it was a matter of 'we know we're going to be on pole, which one of our drivers will it be?' This year, we don't know that.

"It's going to be a lot more interesting and everyone is going to see a lot more racing."

Looking up and down the pit-lane, where do you see the opposition coming from?

MN: "It's difficult to say at this point as not everybody is fully up to speed yet. The Proton looks very quick down the straights, and once they get their chassis fine-tuned it's going to be competitive.

"The MG we know is a good package, and looks strong again this year, while Honda are always going to make sure they do the job properly. I think the competition could come from any of those, then of course there's the independent runners, young Tom Chilton, just 17-years-old, in one of our last year's cars, who's right up there. We've got Aaron Slight as well, who proved himself last year.

"The competition is coming from all over the place, which is great, and it would be extremely satisfying if we could still be at the front."

Do you feel that Vauxhall can take the championship again?

MN: "We have to believe that at this point! Give us three or four meetings and we may feel differently.

"I think we are in with a good chance. We committed early, we built the new cars early, and we've been testing over the winter and the cars seem pretty good. All I can say is that it is going to be a lot closer than last year, but I hope we can still do it."

Mike, you've seen many seasons of Touring Car racing, but you seem to be looking forward to the first meeting of the year as much as anyone?

MN: "When you get to the end of a season, it has been a long hard slog and you get a bit of an anticlimax and think 'I'm glad that's over'. Once you start the new season, and it's now just over a week away from the first race, I can't wait for it to come. I'm looking forward to it."