Gareth Howell joined Team Atomic Kitten's assault on the touring car championship after a season of driving a Ford Focus in the production class, and quickly established himself as a serious threat to the Independent's Cup. Just before the final round at Donington Park we caught up with him and asked him about his season so far.

Gareth, going back to the beginning of the year, what were your hopes?

To win the independents' championship. We're coming into the last round now so let's hope we do it. It's a surprise to be honest, at the back of my mind I didn't expect it because we weren't at the first round. I'm just pleased that we've been given the chance. Because we weren't at the first round the pressure's slightly off. If I win it it's a bonus, if I don't everyone can say "well he was 27 points down when he came into the championship", so I want to win the independents and I could still do with a podium.

You're obviously pleased with the performance of the car?

Yeah to be honest I wish the season had started about three rounds ago because it wasn't until then that I got happy in the car and felt at home. We had a good baseline setup at every track, before that we were just chucking anything at it and didn't really get a setup that I liked so I'm sort of frustrated that it's all over so quickly because I feel we're just starting to get on top of it all, but it was purely down to not testing before the season started.

Do you feel that the improvements have come mostly from the car, or have you noticed yourself becoming better over the year?

I've improved a lot this year as a driver, I've had to. Obviously Colin's a very good team mate, pushing me as well. If it was a slow team mate you'd relax and wouldn't get pushed along. I've had to improve - not just on the circuit but there's a lot of homework to do on the car, I don't just get out of the car and walk away anymore like in the Focus and Fiestas, you sit there for hours on end going through everything data wise and recording your own thoughts on paper as well. It does help you as a driver eventually on the track.

Your favourite moment of the year so far?

I think it's got to be going round the outside of James Thompson at Paddock at Brands and then cutting him up at Druids! That was good. Battling with people who are that good and that well respected is quite a pleasure.

With all the extra publicity surrounding the team with Atomic Kitten as sponsors, has that put any more pressure on you?

I don't think so. Obviously from the other drivers - they thought, "who are these two youngsters coming in with all this press?" so I don't think they liked it too much, but they soon learnt that we're not just two little boys trying to get in the big league - we're there to race as well. It was great at the start, there was a lot of press which obviously helped with our profile but no, it's not a pressure.

What about over the winter - what plans have you got?

Relax for the next couple of weeks, it's been quite a spread out season but it's all come and gone really quickly. There's been a lot of training so I'm not going to see the doors of the gym for the next couple of weeks, I know that much! It's just time to relax but you've got to keep yourself in trim so I'll probably do a few kart races, that kind of stuff just to keep my eye in. And hopefully sort out next year.

Have you got your drive confirmed for next year?

I haven't, no. I haven't spoken to anyone else except MG at the moment, we've had a couple of sit down meetings but to be honest WSR haven't decided what they're doing yet until MG decide where they want to go. They're looking at Europe; they're looking at running more works cars; running satellite teams; so many options but they need to get some figures sorted and then they can look at their drivers. They have said that they're happy with the four drivers that they have and that bodes well.

And long term?

Ambition wise, Le Mans I'd love to do. I went there this year for the first time and it was an amazing event. I'd love to be there, that'd always been an ambition. Eventually one day maybe DTM, race against all the F1 veterans and show them a thing or two! But for the foreseeable future, as it has been for many years now, the ambition is to be British Touring Car champion. That's what I want to do and the way it's going at the moment MG is the team to be around.


Our thanks to Gareth for this interview

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