Onslow Cole

[jackmarsh]

Does anyone else think that TOC's move to VXR is a bit of a disaster? I know the racing hasn't even started yet but I think he has made a poor decision. We all know how well CT has done since leaving VXR, I think TC will do the same this year back in the Honda. I think you will see TOC outqualified at every race meeting by MN and FG, and also I think he will really struggle. Especially if they do as they did last season and only give both drivers the same car at Thruxton. No wonder the 'number 2' drivers have struggled in the last 4 years.

[BDunnell]

Does anyone else think that TOC's move to VXR is a bit of a disaster? I know the racing hasn't even started yet but I think he has made a poor decision. We all know how well CT has done since leaving VXR, I think TC will do the same this year back in the Honda. I think you will see TOC outqualified at every race meeting by MN and FG, and also I think he will really struggle. Especially if they do as they did last season and only give both drivers the same car at Thruxton. No wonder the 'number 2' drivers have struggled in the last 4 years.

It could be another situation like Vincent Radermecker found himself in in 2000. However, if Onslow-Cole wins a couple of races, he'll have done well, and I reckon he ought to be able to do that if the car's to his liking.

[BTCC2]

In my opinion going to a team like Vauxhall can only help a young driver such as Onslow-Cole.

[ATF]

It's true he could turn into another Luke Hines! But he's expected to be beaten by Gio and Neal - if he can take the fight to them on occasion, this could be the chance to prove himself.

Alternatively, where would he have gone? It was evident he was leaving Team RAC so I doubt he would get another opportunity like this at another top team (ie Dynamics or SEAT).

[SEATFreak]

I don't know about diaster but I reckon it is certainly a gamble on the part of Ian Harrison.

A gamble tho that may or may not work depending on whether Tom's role is what I think it is and if he is efficient enough to make it work.

I have this idea in my head that I think Ian knows he (Tom) is unlikely to trouble the top drivers so what he has for Tom is a role as a defensive driver protecting both Neal and Gio from drivers like Mat Jackson, Turks and Mike Jordan whilst Neal and Gio get on with the job of hastling DT and Jase' who will likely be in a car that I like to think now has the power to make it much more competitive with the Vectra's than last season.

But all that is pure speculation. He may just be someone who, much as BTCC2 felt, is seen by Ian as a future talent and that the only gamble is whether he will make it as a consistent front-running trophy-contending driver.

[poole123]

I think it will be very interesting to see the ability of Tom against 2 of the most experienced touring car drivers ever.
It will also be interesting to see if any of the vauxhall drivers get any preference and if there are any team orders.

[Les]

hopefully it will be the case of learning from the master(s) and improving even more. I know the car was set up just for Fab last year but with Matt there maybe the team will be a little less one-sided.
Hopefully Tom will get a podium or two - you never know what will happen but I am sure he won't disgrace himself.

[tdb]

Without it being interpreted as an intention to upset SeatFreak, Ian Harrison is not taking any gamble at all, he is being paid to run the car for TOC and has nothing to lose.

IMO, TOC has gone for the best drive his money can get him.
Driving for a works Team will do him no harm at all, triumph or low finishes compared to his team mates will not matter, the expeirience he will gain from working with some of the best engineers in the business will be invaluable in the future, the same goes for understanding how a works team operates.

Also, I think Tom is a very capable driver and given a set that suits his style and the car that has thus far proven to be competitive, i see no reason why he shouldn't be mixing it with his team mates and the other big 2.

Good luck to him i say.

[SEATFreak]

Without it being interpreted as an intention to upset SeatFreak, Ian Harrison is not taking any gamble at all, he is being paid to run the car for TOC and has nothing to lose.

IMO, TOC has gone for the best drive his money can get him.
Driving for a works Team will do him no harm at all, triumph or low finishes compared to his team mates will not matter, the expeirience he will gain from working with some of the best engineers in the business will be invaluable in the future, the same goes for understanding how a works team operates.

Also, I think Tom is a very capable driver and given a set that suits his style and the car that has thus far proven to be competitive, i see no reason why he shouldn't be mixing it with his team mates and the other big 2.

Good luck to him i say.

I totally agree. He is certainly a capable driver with the promise of being an even more capable driver. I also see no gamble whatsoever as it is Ian that pays for the drive. As you say it is the car that Ian is paying for. Not the actual driver. Any wages maybe. I think if their is a wage structure in place at factory teams it will invevitably go to the driver. But as you rightfully say it is the car that is being paid for with regard to the running. Not the driver.

[Alfa Fan]

I would say that made zero sense but that's being overly generous.

[MBailey06]

I would say that made zero sense but that's being overly generous.

What a pointless thing to say. What SEATFreak is getting at is that he is a capable driving with the prospect of doing well, and Ian Harrison won't mind as TOC gave Vauxhall the money.

[VX_Rules]

It's interesting Vauxhall have decided to use a 3 car team again, back in the unsuccessful Sport Hatch days, a 3 Car team didnt seem to suit them, but are any other teams going to bring in a 3rd like Seat to rise to the challenge?

[SEATFreak]

What a pointless thing to say. What SEATFreak is getting at is that he is a capable driving with the prospect of doing well, and Ian Harrison won't mind as TOC gave Vauxhall the money.

Thank you. I genuinely do not know what it is about my statements Alfa Fan finds so hard to conmprehend. Funny how thought it seems to be only mine and nobody elses. Because his achilles heel, and the one thing that rankles AF is that he simply finds it impossible to admit when my post had made sense. He just cannot do it. So i think he does what he sees as the only alternative. Pretend it hasn't made sense and shoot it down.

Let me brake it down for you Alfa Fan and ask you to give your interpretation on each statement.

"He is certainly a capable driver with the promise of being an even more capable driver"

"I also see no gamble whatsoever as it is Ian that pays for the drive"

"As you say it is the car that Ian is paying for. Not the actual driver"

"Any wages maybe. I think if their is a wage structure in place at factory teams it will invevitably go to the driver"

"But as you rightfully say it is the car that is being paid for with regard to the running. Not the driver."