In the first of a series of meet the Pinkney Motorsport team features,
we chat to Rob Houseman about his involvement with the team…


Rob Houseman alongside the Pinkney Motorsport Vectra


Q: What’s your involvement with Pinkney Motorsport?

Rob Houseman:
I worked with Dave last year when he was with Team Dynamics and sponsored him within the team. We had a great season and just put a deal together for this year. I got more involved, both financially with the sponsorship deal and in working with the guys to put the team together. Eventually it all came to fruition and its going really well so far.


Q: So it’s a commercial partnership that has now expanded.

Rob Houseman:
Indeed it is. I look after the hospitality and guest side of things and get actively involved with the team in the garage as well. It all works well.


Q: Your company, Houseman Dry Lining, has appeared in touring cars for a few years now so what attracted you to Dave Pinkney and Pinkney Motorsport?

Rob Houseman:
I think it’s the fact that we have a great synergy. The team works well together and I feel that Dave has a great image with his cars and I try and capture that image with him. They are a great team and we enjoy their company, so that is why we went in that direction.


Q: From a commercial standpoint as a whole, what attracted you to the BTCC?

Rob Houseman:
I think it is a great platform to portray our company with. We can use it for entertaining our clients, our staff and our suppliers and it is a great way to get our name our there. On the entertainment side, it is most definitely a good tool to use.


Q: Is there any circuit in particular you enjoy?

Rob Houseman:
I love Oulton Park, that has to be my favourite. I love the scenery, it’s a beautiful place. I’m not so keen on cold and windy Thruxton or Knockhill, but Oulton Park is certainly my favourite.


Q: If you were taking over behind the wheel from Dave, would Oulton Park be the circuit you enjoyed driving the most?

Rob Houseman:
That probably would be Thruxton actually! For the downsides it has on our side of the fence, for a driver it is the circuit to be on!


Q: Is there a car on the grid you would say is your favourite – and you don’t have to say the Vectra!

Rob Houseman:
I do love the Vauxhall, they have always been a bit of a passion for me – honest! I do like some of the liveries that are on the grid, aside from ours, this season. The Team Aon cars present very well and David Bartrum always has a nice livery on the Motorbase cars. The Chevrolet’s also look nice and I think it is a great grid at the moment.


Q: From a commercial sense, what do you make of the BTCC at the moment with the drive to bring down costs?

Rob Houseman:
I think that, with the retraction of the manufacturers, the Independent teams out there need some help and if the championship can give that help in the form of regulations that bring down costs, it makes for great racing and keeps some of the smaller teams out there. That is what the BTCC is all about.


Q: A few questions off the wall to finish. Who is your favourite F1 driver?

Rob Houseman:
Jenson I think. I know him which helps, but certainly he has come to fruition recently.


Q: Jaffa Cake – biscuit or cake?

Rob Houseman:
Got to be a cake!


Q: Who do you think is the worst superhero and why?

Rob Houseman:
The worst superhero has got to be Super Dave Pinkney! Why? Well it’s the pink thing he has going on!


Q: One he might not like the answer to. If Dave Pinkney wasn’t a racing driver, what would he be?

Rob Houseman:
I think he’d be a ballerina. With the pink thing, I can definitely see him in a tutu!


Q: And with those twinkling toes…

Rob Houseman:
Absolutely. Have you seen him dance at the end of season TOCA dinner!?!