Changing teams with David Reynolds

David Reynolds came into 2015 under pressure from boss Tim Edwards who said that he was “driving for his career” at Prodrive Racing Australia. David had a simple goal for 2015 and that was to finish every race and produce consistent results.

He did with ease with three poles, two race wins, six podium finishes and was the only driver to finished every lap last year (despite being crashed into). David appreciated getting the brand new FGX as he felt that not only was it a new ball game and also felt that “When the car is good I can be consistently up the front and it reminded myself that racing cars is not to do with the driver but the car and everything that is pulled together to set up the car makes a HUGE difference.”

Unfortunately for David, the good season that he had at Bottle-O didn’t lead to him being resigned at PRA so he signed with Erebus. Here is David’s thoughts about the split at PRA and moving to Erebus.

PRA Split

What do you think caused the split at PRA?  

I think It was just a sponsorship thing, it’s a tough world out in sponsorship land and in the team I was the 3rd favourite driver not that that was ever told to me but I can work it out without even speaking to them.

How much pressure did you feel during the middle of the year, with the deal not being signed?

Yeah a lot, there was pressure from round one after my boss Tim Edwards made some comments about my career so I knew it was going to be a tough year. But when they signed Chaz Mostert early in the year and I was ahead of him in the championship plus he rode of a car at round one and I haven’t even got spoken to about my contract I knew my fate was set. I worked out early on about the changing of sponsorships and drivers in our team many months before I was told, and I told everyone how it would happen and play out and it played out exactly like that. 

How difficult was it to leave PRA after spending four years with them? Did you feel like you were squeezed out by them?

Yes, it is very difficult to leave a team you had for 4 years, you become almost family and know everyone so well and it wasn’t by choice that I left so it was very hard.

How difficult is it to leave the sponsors that have sponsored you throughout your whole time at Ford?

Yes, again very hard, The Bottle O was one of the best sponsors I’ve had and you learn everyone in their business too becomes very hard. Even though I knew they were going on to Marks car as the main sponsor it was still a little hard to swallow, to see the announcement the very 1st say after the last race on the season.

Erebus

When you signed for Erebus, did you know that they would go to Holden, or did you feel that driving a Mercedes Benz would have been a good challenge?

 No, I thought I was driving a Merc for the year I later found out that they were thinking of changing brands. which I think is a good thing for the team.

How have you found the change to Erebus and Holden so far? Have you enjoyed working with Betty Klimenko?

 It’s been great so far, they are going through a lot of changes with the team so I’m understanding that is going to take some time for everyone to find their feet, as far as Holden we haven’t got the cars yet do it’s hard for me to say and betty I’ve spoken to betty on the phone a few times but she has great workers like Barry Ryan and Campbell Little that I don’t need to annoy her.

With changing to Erebus and being in a new team and working with Campbell Little and Barry Ryan before, gives you a good chance to win your first title?

 Yeah for sure, hopefully if our car is fast enough we can challenge for wins and podiums and maybe a title. After the first few races I think we will know how were traveling.

Since joining Erebus he was lucky enough to be a part of the Bathurst 12hour earlier this month. David finished in a respectable 5^th place and felt that “How did you find the weekend itself?

David hopes that even though he’s in a new team he can finish in the top five because that way it will represent a good year for him and is looking forward to driving a Commodore again after not driving one since 2011 for Kelly Racing.