Team Atomic Kitten

[El_Gibleto]

Was anyone else impressed by the first performance of TAK?

I thought that considering how late the team got the cars & the relative inexperience of the two drivers the team performed very well.

In Colin Turkington we have a BTCC star of the future, fast and a great personality

[bella]

bear in mind they were basically completely set up even before the first race, although like you point out, the drivers were quite inexperienced.

you're right about colin, he was very impressive to say it was his first touring car race. obviously these little support series prepare drivers very well..

[Lorna]

I think Colin is going to do very well this year and wish him all the best

[Jonny Apex]

Did the girls turn up to watch their team's debut race. I'm told they did but stubbornly refused to come out of the team's bus.

Anyone know any more?

[bella]

they were there, stood in the pitlane before the first race, cheering the cars on, and were on the grid for the first race. i have evidence. well, not as much of them, more of the huge pack of dribbling photographers stalking them....

[Aidan J Harvey]

They looked rough as a buzzard's crotch. Dunno why people wanted to meet them.

[BTC-P fan]

Unfortunately their flight was late in from Switzerland, so they only arrived for the last 20 mins of the walkabout. They then signed posters, gave out copies of their new single and posed for photos. They then went to meet their families in the AK hospitality area and spent time with a number of journos from the nationals. They watched the races from the MG Hospitality unit at Lodge after they had been on to the grid.

Funny you should say that Aiden but they were less than complimentary about you. Badgers @rsehole was their comment I think!

[bella]

funnily enough, i glared at them, they glared at me, and the feeling was mutual. they definitely appeared to have suffered from the flight... but they still own a great racing team, and i don't care what they look like so long as they keep funding colin and gareth's adventures in touring cars

[touringcarnut]

yeah, who cares what thy look like, if they're funding a touring car team, that's enough to get some respect from me!! (even if their musci is less than impressive!!)

[kmchow]

Hmm, can you imagine a Britney Spears sponsored team? Would you give it the same respect?? ;-)

[Kelvin]

Why does the fact that a pop group have put up sponsorship attract negative comments? Who questions sponsorhip by a credit card company, DIY store, or in fact any other sponsor. OWY had his sisters album plastered all over the pug last year, dont recall a fuss about that!

Kelvin

[El_Gibleto]

Well said Kelvin, we should be greatful that they have chose to get involved in racing, and that two good, professional and talented young drivers are getting the chance to show their ability in touring cars.

If Oulton Park is a good indication, we can expect Colin and Gareth to be on the podium soon.

[touringcarnut]

Yawn............. Indeed, its good to have any backer in the championship, and i agree that its a great way for young talented drivers to get a drive. Just wonder how many Atomic Kitten fans know what a touring car looks like, that's all!!

[Kelvin]

touringcarnut,
why do Atomic K fans HAVE to know what a touring car looks like?
The girls like fast cars, racing and have the money to dispose of.
It's no different to the MD of a company who likes fast cars & racing also with money to dispose of for sponsoring a race car!

Kelvin

[El_Gibleto]

Surely the idea is to a, get a nice big tax write off & b, raise the profile of the group amonst race fans, who's market demographics are in the sector the band want to target.

[Speedworx]

I love the AK cars. They look so much better than the works cars.

[bella]

it's less about letting ak fans know what the cars look like, more about getting fans of the ak drivers (ahem, moi included ) to notice the group, and if they like their brand of soppy music, including their wonderfully simple new single, then they might just buy the records. hence getting them more money in addition to this lovely tax write off thingy.

and besides, as one of them said, there's loads of men in motorsport, they've got money, so why not?

[Cleland]

[flyingkipper]

Very insightful Mr Cleland

[soperman]

I thought the team AK debut was indeed impressive, but the cars were very well prepared. One meeting doesn't make a season, but it was a good start.

Who cares where the money comes from. I couldn't tell you an AK track from a Britany one - but if it brings fresh audience to the sport it has to be a good thing!