Eaves has taken valued sponsor Halfords to privateer Honda team Computeach

Dan Eaves is a late entry for this year’s opening three Green Flag MSA British Touring Car rounds at Thruxton on Easter Sunday, after being named as team-mate to Matt Neal in one of privateer squad Computeach Racing with Halfords’ Honda Civic Type Rs.

Eaves will partner Neal for the 2004 season in the Team Dynamics-run outfit, which has been re-named thanks to continued support of Eaves from Halfords, whose own team he has driven for in the last two seasons. It was under the Team Halfords banner that Eaves won the BTCC’s Independents Trophy and he and Neal are sure to be challengers for the HarrierZeuros-sponsored accolade again this season.

Halfords’ sponsorship means the team’s potent pair of Honda Civics will appear in an orange colour scheme at Thruxton, starting with tomorrow afternoon’s (Thursday) official BTCC test at the Hampshire circuit. Vic Lee, Eaves’ team boss for the last two years, will act as his manager and has joined the outfit as a technical advisor.

Eaves has already tested the Civic - as of Thruxton, it will be orange! Eaves told tocatour.com: “It’s great to have the deal in place and to be in a proven race-winning car. I tested the Honda last week at Oulton and it is an excellent car, particularly through the corners. I’ll start the season using Matt’s set-up but gradually will hone it more to my liking. The aim, of course, is to win races.”

He added: “I don’t have any friends among the drivers and I’m not there to make friends.

“Any driver who considers one of his rivals to be a pal is a bit of a fool. You start thinking twice about making contact or being aggressive when fighting for position. You can’t afford to do that at this level. With Matt, it’ll be a bit different because he’s my team-mate, but as far as I’m concerned second place is the first of the losers.”