BTCC 'Ketchup kid' reflects on debut season

The young Scot came into the UK’s premier motor racing series with a glowing CV: titles in the supporting Renault Clio Cup and SEAT Cupra championships and race wins every year in every category he’d contested since making his car racing debut in 2001.

And he sensationally looked to have carried on that tradition in his very first BTCC appearance when he crossed the line in first spot in race three of Brands Hatch’s season-opener in April. But it was not to be: officials demoted him to second behind Jason Plato for having punted the Chevrolet driver out of the way.

Adam, however, had clearly laid down an early marker so it was a surprise perhaps that he only achieved one other podium finish all season, although he clearly feels an opportunity to end his maiden campaign on a high went begging after Vauxhall driver Neal had clattered into his Airwaves BMW starting the title-deciding final race of the season, this time around Brands Hatch’s Grand Prix circuit.

In a big interview with btcc.net, Adam said: “I don't normally get too annoyed with other drivers, but if I had to choose one then Matt Neal springs to mind. Twice this season, at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, Matt spoiled my race by unnecessarily making contact and taking away what could have been two good results.

“The Brands Hatch incident was a shame because I wasn't in the championship fight and everyone knows he was there to help Giovanardi in that race, but that could have been my first win. Sorry Matt, but you’re off my Christmas card list this year.”

He added: “That race in the first round at Brands was just one of those things. It wasn’t in the plan to make that contact with Jason, but when I was past I was able to at least to show I had the pace to win in the BMW. The sponsors also loved the coverage, despite the result – the contact with Jason got over 300,000 hits on YouTube!

“If I’m honest, I feel a little disappointed not to take a win this year as I had good pace throughout the season, but I’m relaxed that the win will come, hopefully soon, and as a bonus I’ll get to have that winning feeling all over again!”

Adam says he instantly gelled with the Motorbase team – which runs the Airwaves BMW cars – during a pre-season test session at Brands Hatch and has high praise for both team principal David Bartrum and team-mate Robert Collard.

He said: “Bartrum couldn’t wait to show us our pit boards – Rob’s said ‘Roberto’ and mine said ‘Here’s Jonny!’ There was always a great atmosphere in the team and there plenty of laughs and jokes along the way, but we were very serious when it came to the racing.

“Also, as the season went on, the team realised just how much tomato ketchup I use with nearly everything. So ‘Ketchup Kid’ became my nickname!

“I got on really well with Robert. He’s one of the best team-mates I’ve ever had: he’s fast, loves his racing and is a really nice bloke. I learnt a lot from him throughout the season – especially what he does to get those awesome starts he seems to make all the time!”

Adam is of course aiming to emulate other Scottish greats such as Jim Clark, John Cleland and David Leslie in becoming a top name in the BTCC. Just turned 25, he’s already done plenty to win over fans and marshals. Not only is he among the BTCC’s most approachable characters, but he regularly pulls on a pair of orange overalls himself to help marshal at events at his local circuit of Knockhill where he also participates in a road safety campaign for young motorists.

The Kinghorn driver continued: “I'd like to think that I've maybe won over a few people in my first season. I'm pretty laid back and don't really express myself as much as some of the other drivers and try not to offend anybody. As long as I get the results for myself, the team and the sponsors – being liked is a bonus.

“The BTCC allows the drivers to meet the fans and marshals during the pit lane walkabout and I really was surprised on my first BTCC weekend at Brands Hatch at how many people were there. It was nice to get a warm welcome as a BTCC rookie.”

Adam acknowledges that acclimatising to life as a BTCC driver both on and off-track has taken time, but there was a definite surge in momentum during the 2009 season’s second half and he is now clearly targeting a title or two in 2010.

Indeed, in addition to leading at Brands Hatch in April he later enjoyed a second spell at the front in Rockingham’s penultimate round where he also qualified a best-ever second fastest. Furthermore, he impressively finished inside the top eight in 14 out of the 15 races between August and October and it required a bizarre incident at, of all places, Knockhill where his car’s fire extinguisher exploded all over him to cause a non-score. In the end he finished eighth overall in the standings – just 29 points adrift of much more experienced team-mate Collard in sixth.

Adam said: “The support series certainly taught me the basic skills needed for the BTCC, but it’s not until you come up against those drivers who are masters at what they do that you can truly learn the craft needed to be up front.

“Starting with a rear-wheel-drive car, the BMW, when I’d had five years of front-wheel-drive cars in the support series did take time to adjust but the BMW is a great bit of kit. As the season went on my qualifying pace got better with each weekend and I understood how to get the best from the car and tyres over one flying lap. I was the top BMW at the last two meetings in qualifying and – don't mention it to Rob! – but I won six-four in qualifying.

“I know I need to keep working on my race pace, but towards the end of this season my engineer Richard Townsend and I really started to get a much better understanding of what the car was doing. I also felt my racecraft improved as the season progressed and that year’s experience will hopefully help me for next season.

“Motorbase also took another big step forward in pace this season. A lot of time this year we were a lot quicker than in 2008 and that’s down to all the hard work back at the workshop and the guys understanding what makes the BMWs work. I believe that in 2010 the team will make further improvements to the cars' pace – with and without success ballast – and that we can challenge for the Drivers’ and Teams' championships.”