84 Tom Harris leads the way in the National Points Shootout entering the penultimate round at King’s Lynn this coming weekend. Below is an extract from an interview that Tom did with Mark Paulson – the full interview appears in Saturday’s program.
Tom Harris Leads the way in the National Shootout heading into Saturday, the Banbury man might prefer them not to be on shale but knows he still has as good a chance as any of the leading contenders. He said: “If there were two more tarmac rounds I’d rate my chances better but my shale form’s not been too bad this year so I’ll give it a go. I know the last round’s double points but I think it’s between the top four now really.”
The strategy is simple: “Finish – you don’t get any points for being parked up in the middle. So finish and hopefully beat the people I need to beat.”
He’s not concerned about those not involved in the points chase serving as spoilers: “No, at the end of the day, they’re racing for themselves. It’s no different for them. Everybody goes out on the track to win, regardless of if you’re in the shootout or not. If they’re faster than you, they’re going to pass you, so no, I don’t think anybody will get involved.”
Stepping back from the pressure of the end-of-season title race, the European Champion is able to reflect on what has been a fantastic, multiple title-winning year for him.
“I’d never won a title until the European this year. I’ve had a lot of bad luck in title races. I won the European, [then] we went to Venray in Holland and I won the World Cup! That’s one title which I’d never even dreamed of winning. Going over there, you race over there two meetings of the year and it’s like their World Final. So it’s a real big ask, but to win a foreign title is incredible. And then obviously to win the Grand National Championship, it’s all come at once,” he said, almost in disbelief.
Harris reckons he’s been able to step up a gear when the pressure is on. “Last year I won nine finals. I’ve only won six to date this year, but the races I have won have been far more important than the races I did win last year – made it count when it mattered. I got into the lead of the World Final and I didn’t end up winning, but I was there, I was a big contender and I played a big part in the race which obviously means a lot to us.”
It’s an approach that has delivered his best ever set of results: “I look back at this season so far and say it was my best season that I’ve ever had, without a doubt.”
Here at the Norfolk Arena, we’re all excited that the Big League’s world final is being staged on the saddlebow shale next year. It might be almost 12 months away, but for Harris the preparations are already under way.
“I’ve sold both my cars so I’m going to have a pair of new cars for next year”, he explained, before adding: “and come out with a fresh head, hopefully. It was all a bit of a rush at the beginning of this season because I had so much work on through the winter. But hopefully [I will] come out next year stronger and better.”
It’s clear the thought of a shale world final is at the forefront of his mind: “We race all year for the World Championship. The other titles are out there but that’s the big one – that’s the one everybody wants to win. You’ve got to have a lot of luck in the race whereas the points is more about consistency over the 12 months. But the World Final is the race that everybody wants to win,” he stressed.
“That’s the idea of building a new shale car – we want to do something different. We built that tarmac car and it was absolutely incredible. I’d never thought I’d build a car that won and handled and was as fast as it was. So we’ve got a few different ideas to put into a car, so hopefully that’s going to do the trick when it comes to the World Final at King’s Lynn.”
Harris is promising his new machine will be a bit special. “Well it’s going to be different!” he exclaimed with a hint of mischief.#
It might not be his happiest hunting ground, but the man from the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border still has a solid record at Saddlebow Road. “I’ve always got on round King’s Lynn,” he agreed. “I’ve never really had a haul of wins at King’s Lynn. I’ve won a few heats and few grand nationals but I’ve only ever won one final there.” All that’s been missing is that little bit of luck: “The last meeting at King’s Lynn I thought I was on for the final and I got tangled up with John Lund and it didn’t come off, but I seem to have found a fairly good set-up around there.”
He hopes that will set him in good stead this weekend. “The track’s always good at King’s Lynn. The surface is always real smooth and the track’s real slick and fast so hopefully we’ve got something this weekend that we can pull out the bag,” is the verdict.