Tom Chilton: fit for the challenge

By Dave Brockman:

19 March 2004

Staying with Honda for a second year and with his team mates yet to be confirmed, Tom Chilton has by default become the team leader. He's risen to the task and has been working on his fitness, as he told us during preparations for Tuesday's test session.

The last time we saw you was at Autosport International and you were just getting ready to go testing in Spain. How did that go?

We had a full weeek out there, just myself obviously. In the first couple of days we just got our bearings and tried out new bits and pieces, then in the last part of the week we really got it together, we had a great setup.

The team, the car, myself - it all came together and we ended up just having the edge over Vauxhall, even if it was just by a couple of tenths. That's nice but it's nothing really, just a hair's length.

Still it's good to see that we are developing, we are going faster. We've still got one or two bits to try on the car - we're trying one of them today - and we'll see how it goes.

What have you managed to change on the car?

I can't say! But it is a complete new car and we're happy with it so far.

This year you find yourself in the position of team leader. How are you coping with having all the work and testing thrown on you?

It's nice! It gives me a good kick up the backside which makes me work harder.

It gives me a good kick up the backside which makes me work harder
Tom Chilton

Can you tell us who your team mates are going to be yet?

I can't say yet, but there will be some news soon.

Is one of them an Irish gentleman?

Maybe!

So in today's test what are you hoping to achieve?

Well there's new tarmac out there, so there's still oil coming through it which makes it a bit greasy and slippery. But it would be good if we can get close to the times we set last year, but so far we haven't tried for a quick lap so we can't really say.

I'm hoping to be top of the timesheets by the end of the day but you'll probably get people taking out some weight and posting good times so I wouldn't read too much into it today.

Psychologically how important is it to beat people like Matt Neal and Gareth Howell who are more experienced but using last year's car?

Oh definitely, I'd like to think I can beat them in the championship too.

When are we going to see that first win?

Hopefully in the first weekend at Thruxton! I want to be in the top four overall. I've been doing everything I can to help myself over the winter.

I've been training really hard, and working with Bernie Shrosbree who trains guys like Mark Webber and Ralph Firman. It's completely risen me from the dead!

Now that we've got three races you don't want to be up and down the whole time - you end up really menstrual!
Tom Chilton

Also I've got a nutritionist now. Before I used to have a bit of sugar to get up then you'd have a big fall (in alertness and fitness), now I'm just keeping a constant level the whole time.

Now that we've got three races you don't want to be up and down the whole time - you end up really menstrual! That's not good!

I've been training non-stop over the winter, trying to be as fit as possible. A fit body's a fit mind as they say. I seriously reckon me and Jimmy are probably the fittest drivers out there at the moment.

We've just heard the team joking about what you can and can't eat for lunch but how seriously do you have to watch your diet now?

I'm not allowed salt, sugar or sodium and everything has to be under 20% fat. No more McDonalds for me!

Bernie's pushing me hard. We have training camps in Lanzarote where you really do work flat out for seven days, then you come back and try to stay at the same level.

I've been doing 120km on the bike, then ten miles running, and a 2km swim plus 3 hours in the gym. That's a typical week, but now I can keep at one level rather than being up and down all the time.

Going back to the team, how has Honda reducing their involvement had an effect?

It's nowhere near the level of Vauxhall or SEAT of course, they have a lot of money so for us to be right up there on the timesheets is pretty good, it proves we've got lots of talent in the team.

The Civic is a very good chassis too - it works well. I think it will be good everywhere. I've set it up with a good base line and it's also a lot more forgiving than last year's car.

It wasn't on the pace of the Astra but now it's a lot better to drive. I'm looking forward to all the races.

I'm pleased that Knockhill's back, I think we'll be strong there. But I'm cross that Rockingham's not on the calendar - that was probably some of the best racing. I remember having Reid in front of me but not being able to pass him for ages, and having Jimmy behind me pushing hard. It was mayhem but that's what you want to see, it attracts punters!

Silverstone should be good, especially the Grand Prix support race. I've never raced the full circuit before but having said that I'd never driven the GP circuit at Brands Hatch until three years ago and I did ok there!