Eaves: I've proved the critics wrong.

One quick glance at the standings for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship highlights a number of drivers that you would expect to be fighting for title glory. Profiles such as Yvan Muller, Matt Neal and Jason Plato have all been the in the thick of the action for several years now have become proven winners.

Yet there is a new name amongst the established stars of BTCC racing because for Dan Eaves, 2005 has been a year of breakthroughs and now he can hold his head high amongst the BTCC's more legendary reputations.

Speaking to Crash.net Radio during another successful weekend at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk, Eaves has come a long way since he made a rather low profile debut for Peugeot's ill-fated works effort in 2000 and now five-years on he remains in the overall title hunt at the wheel of the Team Halfords Honda Integra Type-R. It is an envious position that Eaves finds himself in and he is delighted to have raised his profile this year.

"It has been superb this year. Matt (Neal) has always been up there as a top line driver and I think this year I have established myself as a top line driver too. I think I have proved a few critics wrong," Eaves said.

Indeed, Eaves has battled hard in the BTCC for some years and despite winning the Independents title in 2001, the change from the reliable 406 Coupe to the less developed 307 hatchback forced him back into the driver wilderness for a couple of years. Nonetheless, when Gareth Howell was forced to quit before the season even started last year Eaves was installed in the Team Halfords Honda Civic and he rewarded his bosses and sponsors with a maiden win at Oulton Park.

However, it has been at the wheel of the rakish Integra Type-R that Eaves has marked himself out as a regular race winner, earning his place amongst the best by becoming the first driver to score three consecutive wins on one race weekend, courtesy of a stunning performance at Thruxton.

"The team as a whole have been chuffed to bits and the sponsors have been over the moon. We have had a couple of difficult races so we have not been flying along recently but we have been picking up points and we are still right up there in the championship."

Having closed the gap on second place Yvan Muller in the championship courtesy of two second places and a fifth, Eaves is excited about the prospect of the coming races too.

"I think we should be good at the remaining circuits. Knockhill has always suited me and I think it will suit our car, Silverstone should suit us and so should the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit with its fast, flowing corners. I'm hopeful, so I think we will be right up there with them," Eaves commented.

Eaves currently lies third in the driver's standings 11 points behind Yvan Muller in second.