Jack Goff keen to make a splash at top table of touring cars

When Team BMR announced that Jason Plato and Colin Turkington had signed to drive for them in 2015, the fan-warmth towards the departing Jack Goff was on a par with his former squad’s signing of two double champions. 

Plenty of concerned supporters posed the obvious question on social media – would Goff be on the 2015 grid? And almost as soon as the furore had died down over Warren Scott’s line-up, they had their answer.

The 23-year-old former Clio Cup champion now has a plum factory seat with reigning manufacturers’ champions Triple Eight Racing, and is setting himself the target of challenging for podiums at every circuit.

And with a first run in the car scheduled for Donington Park tomorrow, the Buckinghamshire-based driver will be able to enjoy a pre-season testing programme for the first time in his BTCC career.

TouringCarTimes caught up with Goff to talk about the reaction to his signing, and his hopes for the new season.

“When BMR announced their deals I didn’t expect that sort of reaction. We got just as much coverage as Colin and Jason by us not having a drive,” said Goff.

“We were pretty close with 888 at that point and I was confident in myself, but obviously you can’t go and blurt it out!

“We knew that BMR were in advanced talks with Colin and Jason when Ian Harrison approached me. The buzz to be able to drive for a manufacturer was huge for me and my sponsors.

“At the start it wasn’t anything serious and we were talking to a lot of other teams. But as it went on it got more serious, and that was the only place I was going to go.”

Goff confessed to being “very depressed” at work when he thought he wasn’t going to be on the grid, before he got the call he wanted to hear – “we’re going racing.”

He admitted he had started to consider other routes to make sure he was on a circuit in 2015.

He said: “Touring cars was always the route I wanted to go down. To be able to say I’m driving for 888 at MG is massive.

“But one point I thought I didn’t have the budget for touring cars and I was going to have to look at other options. But touring cars was always at the back of my mind.

“From my sponsors’ point of view it is great. Everyone knows Premier League football and we have a bigger average crowd than they do. And it’s a different crowd at all the tracks.”

Thoughts now turn to the first run in the proven MG6 GT, which was a regular race winner in the hands of previous drivers Plato and Sam Tordoff. Goff is only too aware of the challenge he faces despite this, with 2013 champion Andrew Jordan the benchmark driver in the second car.

Goff said a lack of running in the past has hindered his progress, something he hopes will not be an issue this season.

He said: “With the Vauxhall we didn’t have any testing, and at the first weekend I didn’t even know how to start it! Last year we started with the Vauxhall too and halfway through we went to the Volkswagen.

“Then I had to start again. I had no testing, and the second meeting was at Knockhill where I’d never even driven a car.

“In 2015 I’m in a car which has challenged for the championship. I think the whole grid is going to be quick but I know this is the quickest front-wheel drive car, and hopefully the rear-wheel drive advantage off the line is going to be equalised too.

“We’ve got time to get out there and have a proper crack at it, and we know the car is going to be quick.”

Triple Eight boss Ian Harrison has said he wants Goff to be a regular in the top eight, but his new charge is setting his sights even higher than that.

He said: “I want to go out there and win races. I want to be able to challenge for the podium every weekend, and bring myself closer to the championship leaders. If I am outside the top 10 I won’t be happy.”

For now, Goff is delighted to be back on a grid which is looking incredibly strong again in 2015, with triple world champion Andy Priaulx’s return highlighting the kudos the series once again has.

He said: “It is going to be tough with the quality of drivers we have on the grid. I think last year we had something like 23 drivers who had been a champion in their category. So if you get in the top 20 you’re beating a champion!

“Everyone still talks about the Super Touring era, but people are forgetting how many good drivers we have on the grid at the moment. For me, British Touring Cars is currently the pinnacle.”

Following the start of the test programme, Goff will unveil the new livery of his MG6 at Donington Park’s media day on March 24.