Ash Hand is well aware that his maiden campaign of car racing competition in 2013 in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship-supporting Renault UK Clio Cup will require significantly more than just a heavy right foot and a deft touch behind the wheel, but the talented young Nuneaton-based speed demon is confident he will swiftly prove to his rivals that he is every inch the complete package.
Off the back of an impressive karting career both on home turf and abroad, Hand will make his tin-top debut at Brands Hatch over Easter weekend in a Clio Renaultsport 200 prepared by defending series champions Team Pyro. By the time the season revs into life in Kent, the highly-rated Maple Park hotshots testing schedule will ensure he has prior knowledge of the full complement of circuits on the calendarand he acknowledges that it is vital he gets to grips with all the tracks at this early stage.
If you still need to learn the layout during Friday practice ahead of the race weekend, you lose critical set-up time simply trying to get used to which way the lap goes! he reasoned. We needed the amount of pre-season testing that weve had if we want to be genuine contenders in the championship this yearotherwise, you are facing a learning year instead of being able to have a proper crack at it.
At Thruxton, we were quickest by three tenths of a second, and although it was the first time I had been to either of them, we were fastest again at Snetterton and there-or-thereabouts at Rockingham. With every track weve been to, Ive learned something different about the car.
I feel like Im part of the car now, and like I can really make it do what I want it to do. Everything feels under control and I can drive the Clio almost like I used to drive my kartthe confidence is there. I can push to the limit every time. Its all been really encouraging, to be honest, and its looking pretty promising for the season ahead.
Characteristically displaying no fear, Hand cites Thruxton as his favourite circuit, describing the ultra-fast and flowing Hampshire venue as balls-out and all about skill behind the wheel. It should be noted, however, that the 18-year-old has been working just as hard out of the cockpit, too. He has been receiving media tuition from respected, award-winning television presenter, journalist and former F1 press officer Louise Goodman as he prepares to face a whole new level of exposure to anything he has ever encountered before.
Its all about getting used to being in front of the camera, and Louise has been putting me under pressure with awkward questions to make sure Im always ready and composed for anything that might be thrown at me, he underlined. I feel Ive benefitted hugely from Louises help. Ive had experience of TV interviews in karting, but thats not the same as going on camera when youve got 14 million people watching you live on ITV4!
Media training is crucial; you need to present yourself in the best possible light to sponsors and potential sponsorsif youre not articulate and dont come across well, youre going nowhere. This sport is about so much more than merely driving a car fast. You need to be professional in every aspect and every inch the complete package.
On the subject of sponsorship, although he has already secured valuable backing from both Sigma and QTS, with one eye on the longer-term, Hand has been spending a considerable degree of time canvassing interested backers for the next step2014. He explains that its all about making contacts and developing relationships, and then fostering them, maturely adding that my dad has been helping, but I know I need to be the one putting myself out there and on the front line.
The Warwickshire teenager has, moreover, been assiduously testing his mettle on the state-of-the-art iZone Driver Performance simulator at the celebrated Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, whilst at the same time focussing extremely hard on his fitness and diet. He is, all-told, leaving absolutely no stone unturned in his pursuit of perfection in 2013.
Im out running and doing weight-training every day when Im not in the car, and Ive got a personal trainer at my gym, which is proving to be extremely productive, Hand affirmed. You need to be both physically fit and mentally alert and on top of your game if you want to succeed in this sportyou need to be strong in every area.
I feel Ive got the tools at my disposal now to deal with any situation, and Im really excited for the first round at Brands Hatch. Were fast building up to the moment of truth. The profile and pressure will be a lot higher than anything Ive known before, but I feel ready for that and Im just really looking forward to it all.
