Q&A: Spencer Marsh.

A new team in the BTCC this season are Production Class contenders Beacon Motorsport. Running Honda Accords, the team have signed up two drivers from last year's Lotus one-make championship, Spencer Marsh and Mark Thomas. We asked 23-year-old Spencer about his move into Touring Cars, and the team's goals for the season.

Q:
Spencer - this is going to be your first season in Touring Cars. It's a big step up, are you looking forward to it?

Spencer Marsh:
I am, it should be very different. I'm looking forward to the hustle and bustle of the Touring Car pack.

Q:
I believe the team and deal has come together quite late?

SM:
"Very late. We've literally only been formed for the past eight weeks, only got the cars about a week ago, and were out at Silverstone in days. We're delighted with the way things are going so far.

Q:
The Lotus Elise was a rear-wheel drive car, suddenly you're into a front-wheel drive Production Class Touring Car, is that a big jump?

SM:
It's a huge difference! I got into the car at Silverstone and I literally didn't know what I was doing for the first few laps, it felt absolutely bizarre. But after a while you adapt and develop a rhythm, though it's really a completely different technique. Hopefully I'm starting to get used to it now, we'll see!

Q:
Suddenly you're racing in an environment where you're having much longer - and more complex - races, are you looking forward to that?

SM:
Absolutely. It's going to be something completely different, much higher profile than I am used to, but we've got some good sponsors and it should be a good year.

Q:
The first BTCC race is at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday, 1 April - what are your goals going to be from that first meeting?

SM:
Because the team has come together so late, the goal is going to be literally just to get the cars to the finish line. There are always a lot of casualties in Touring Cars, people knocking each other off, and we don't want to be part of that. We want to get the cars to the line and build the team up from there.

It's no good going out expecting to win the first race or smashing the cars up when the team's been put together so late, we're taking a sensible approach.

Q:
And as the season goes on?

SM:
Hopefully we'll improve - we're looking to get on the podium a few times and, fingers crossed, finish in the top-three in the championship.