Welch Motorsport optimistic after Brands issues

Both of the Welch Motorsport Proton Gen-2 cars will hit the track at Donington Park this weekend, after neither made it to the start line at Brands Hatch for the season opener.

An ankle injury kept Dan Welch out of action for the first three races of the year, while Andy Wilmot struggled with an isolated power-unit problem during free practice and qualifying prevented him lining up for the races.

Despite the issues, Wilmot is optimistic the team can get some points on the board by the end of the year following a trying 2014 season plagued by engine-related difficulties.

“[Brands Hatch] was disappointing and of course frustrating,” said Wilmot. “But that’s the way it goes sometimes and I am really looking forward to the forthcoming weekend at Donington Park. I really want to score some points this year as part of a long-term goal to establish myself in the BTCC and, although we’ve started the season on the back foot, I’m sure we will get it right.

“Welch Motorsport is a fantastic team and the Proton Gen-2 suits my driving style, but it’s just great to be involved in the championship and I’ve got faith in the guys that we’ll be in the mix sooner rather than later.”

Team boss John Welch is also upbeat ahead of the team’s first real chance to show what it’s made of in 2015, although admits that Donington Park is very much a chance for the team to find its feet and starting to make progress with the Gen-2.

“We’re now doing a lot better and I’m fairly certain the fault that has thwarted our progress all year has been solved,” offered Welch. “There’s a huge sense of relief and we now have to refocus, having been overstretched and pulled every which way of late. Donington Park will primarily be about doing the best we can while getting everything back in place and reapplying a methodical approach.

“Dan will have a steady drive, as his foot isn’t completely fixed and having lost track time with Andy, we were very keen to get him out early at Brands Hatch. Sadly, we ran a set of bearings due to low engine temperatures and that ultimately prevented us from taking part in the races.

“We’re one of the few teams that are still building our own engines and, rightly or wrongly, that is a big project. There’s a bit of fine-tuning to do and, while we will undoubtedly encounter the normal ups and downs of motor racing, things are looking very positive now. One thing’s for certain – we’re going racing!”