Dan Eaves - 2002 Independents' Champion

Team Halfords driver Dan Eaves has had more than his fair share of bad luck this year as he battled it out for the independents' cup. At Donington he started from the back of the touring car grid for both races after his VLR Peugeot 406 could not be re-started after a routine weight check, but - aided by Aaron Slight crashing - he fought his way through the field to be top independent in the sprint race. Following Slight's retirement from the feature race, Dan was crowned champion!

BTCCinfo.co.uk spoke to Dan after qualifying on Saturday - here's what he had to say.


Going back to the beginning of the year, what were your hopes for the season?

Well, we knew it was going to be difficult because obviously the car was a year old and we struggled last year against the Astras, but then we knew we'd made a lot of developments on the car - we'd got rid of a lot of weight which was our major problem last year. We'd shed about 45kg of weight off the car, which we thought would be a big help. We'd also changed all of the rear suspension setup, the way it worked, so with all of that I thought it'd be good. We changed engine builders as well, they came to us saying they'd be able to get us another 15 horsepower - which they did - so really I thought we'd be right on it.

And in the first race of the season I was: qualified third and fourth at Brands so I really thought it was going to be a good year, and that we'd make improvements on the car as we went through; unfortunately everyone else has made bigger steps forward than we have, so we've been demoted to tenth and backwards.

How frustrating has the car's performance been?

Very. It's always frustrating when you're trying your hardest and go through everything to try and find improvements, taking gambles on setup and stuff, Tim and I have often gone in different directions on setup and we both did the same lap times and had the same problems. It makes it very very frustrating when you're both driving your hearts out and you're getting the same results.

Generally it seems that when you get the handling sorted out, you get hit with reliability problems.

Yeah, that's another area of frustration because again, when you drive three-quarters of a race in whatever position and then the car gives up on you in one way or another, then it's all been in vain basically. But the killer for me has been my steering problems, I've had four or five retirements because of it which, when it's the same problem repeatedly, certainly rubs salt in the wounds.

Out of the three drivers you've generally been the quickest in qualifying, so I take it you're pleased with your own performance?

Yeah, driving against your team-mates obviously you want to beat them because it's the only direct comparison you've got with anybody else on the grid so you always try and beat them, obviously we've all had our reliability problems in qualifying as well so sometimes that's hindered us, then there's also the ballast as well and if you're qualifying with ballast that's going to be more difficult. But yes, generally I've been the quickest which is very pleasing for me because it shows that I'm good enough to do the job as well as anybody can.

Has having an experienced team mate like Tim helped you - have you been able to share much information?

Yeah - we share everything basically, apart from women! We share all our data and set up - you've got to because we're in it as a team and we're competing against all the other teams and we've got to beat them. You have to give yourself your best chance and information sharing is one of those chances that helps you so, yes, we've shared all that sort of stuff.

What about his driving style?

A little bit but not massive amounts. I've been driving 12 years now so you obviously have your own style of driving. Little things help like the data and everything, he does help sometimes. It was the same with Steve Soper last year - the things he could do with a car were unbelievable. He could brake so much later than you at some corners for some reason, it was totally mind-boggling how he could do it, but you sit there and go through it and start to realise how he does it and put it into practice yourself.

What's been the most rewarding part of the year so far?

Coming second at Brands! It was the first race of the year and we had high hopes and that basically started us off on the right foot, then in the feature race it all went wrong.

And the worst?

The worst moment? Lots of bad moments really - all my reliability problems. Probably getting taken out in the pit lane by [Colin] Turkington actually, that did a lot of damage, it was totally not our fault and I was leading the independents' championship at that point. It just put a cap on everything basically. I'd had a couple of bad races anyway, and that was just rubbing our noses in it.

Are you disappointed not to be leading the independents' championship?

I am yes, because I truly believe I should have wrapped it up a long time ago but obviously we've had breakdowns and what not. The people we're competing against, their cars have proven to be able to do the lap times: like the two Atomic Kitten cars have qualified third, fourth, fifth at certain points; Aaron Slight's stuck it on the front row a couple of times, so it shows that their cars are capable of doing it whereas we're fighting with this car to get a result and I think we've done very respectably really.

What can you tell us about the rumours you'll be running 307's next year?

I know the team would like to run them, I think we all believe it's a good car. We've gone through a chassis we're building for the Macau race and everything points to it making a very very good touring car. But unfortunately at this time and moment we don't have the finacial backing to build and run the cars, so really for the team to run the 307 would need a manufacturer to help with the build cost and design costs of all the parts to make it work. So at the moment I can't see it being an option.

With the rules staying stable for the next few years, is there a chance Peugeot could come back? Or could another manufacturer get involved with the team?

I think so yes. Obviously the costs are a lot lower now as people have discovered. I haven't heard any rumours of other manufacturers coming into it, but I've heard that Richard West was talking to a couple. It all sort of looks good for it but unfortunately the state of the car manufacturers industry at the moment is not too good and the really big players have got all their money tied up in either F1 or rallying. It's a bit unfortunate for us because this is a cheap form of motorsport for a manufacturer and has massive implications on their sales, I don't really understand why they can't say "well we'll put a bit of money that way".

If there was one rule you could change, what what would it be?

I would change the rolling start of the feature race. I just don't think it does anything. Everybody going into the first corner in the same position - unless it's been a false start which it quite often is but nothing gets done about it. Quite often the pole sitter's side of the grid has already gone and they're already up the inside of the left hand side. I'd change that. I'd have two standing starts, I don't see why we need a rolling start.

What plans have you got for over the winter?

Not a lot at the moment - I'd like a holiday but wouldn't we all. Go to a few horse race meetings, maybe a bit of golf but I don't like it that much in the winter because the weather's so crap; nice Christmas with the family. I'll just be working with the team, working with Vic trying to secure more sponsorship, trying to get some more deals and sorting out next year. In the ideal world I'd like to be out testing in January but it's very dodgy at the moment. I'd like to be out as early as possible testing for next year but whatever happens between now and then is anybody's guess.

Has Vic confirmed you as a driver for next year yet?

No. But I've got as good a chance as any.

And what about your long term plans in motorsport? Do you still want to be in touring cars?

Yes, I've always thought that the British Touring Car Championship is the place to be, it's where I've always aimed for. I've known all along that getting there is one thing but staying there is another. There's very few drivers who've got there and then stayed there for more than two years so I'd like to stay here as long as I can, and if push comes to shove maybe move into the European Championship but really I'd like to stay here.


Our thanks to Dan for his time, and congratulations on the 2002 Independents' Cup.

Text copyright BTCCinfo.co.uk / Pictures courtesy of Team Halfords.