Westley Barber

[Jonny Apex]

He's doing well, isn't he? Seven poles, seven victories, five fastest laps - two of them lap records.

Only Christian England has got remotely close over a race distance, at Oulton.

With a stable team environment and the right management around him, we're now seeing all the fizz Barber displayed on his way to the French Formula Renault Campus title in '98.

Unlike many others whose careers hit a rough patch he has refused to let it stop him. He's gone and done something about it. And to great effect. Not only that, but also extremely approachable.

Good lad.

Doubtless some can't bear to see him doing well and will come out with the usual sanctimonious claptrap, however.

[Francesca]

Yeah, it is really nice to see him doing well. Let's hope he goes on to do well in the next series he competes in too.

[Rennen]

WB certainly has the measure of his teammates alright. All things are relative! It's an easy year with no 'works' opposition to the Duckham's Van Diemen team for the first time in year's and many went F.Renault.

Before you get too carried away... just compare his qualifying lap times to the last two years Duckhams drivers times.

But then racing is only relative isn't it?

[bella]

i suppose rennen's got a point, take out a bunch of pointy-end competitive drivers from last year, and the same sort of domination might happen. however, it shouldn't take anything away from what the boy's done. winning that many races means you've got talent. you just have to learn how to show it consistently (hasn't he jumped around series a lot?).

[Tallie]

yeah. he's done campus, f3, and i think renault as well... lots of experience there compared to the rest of the ff drivers....

[bella]

so would it be unfair to put him on the same level as the rest anyway? so long as he can remember how to drive without wings, he's sorted.

[Tallie]

i think it is unfair to compare. He is a good driver... obviously, or he wouldnt b winning... but if im correct, he is in his 5th year of cars and most of the rest are in their first or second... but your right, he has sorted out changing from slicks and wings!!

[Clyde Ankle]

If Barber's winning it's because he's good. I don't understand this mentality which regards experience as being an unfair advantage.

Surely it is in the interest of the driver to be in a championship where he is going to do well, it's what the sponsors want and helps get support for the next season in a higher category.

[bella]

it's not an unfair advantage to have experience, it just makes comparisons that little bit more difficult and unfair to do. mind you, comparisons are always unfair, everyone's got different brains and mental approaches.

[Jonny Apex]

Originally posted by Rennen
Before you get too carried away... just compare his qualifying lap times to the last two years Duckhams drivers times.

I don't think qualifying times year to year can be compared that much as track conditions can differ massively. Likewise fastest race laps - and, yes, I admit I brought up the fact he's set two lap records!

Look at other formulae such as Renault: even with the new diffuser and twin rear-wing this year they're sometimes not matching the pole times of 2001.

As for Barber's experience. Yes, he probably got quite a bit more than his rivals, but my point is that after dominating Campus he had a rough ride ith the La Filiere class B F3 team in France in '99 and only managed half a season in British F3 with Manor in 2000. Yes, it was with the best team, but things were still tough. He probably had too many distractions to concentrate properly on the job.

Now he's resurrected his career. A bit like Kirkaldy in Clios who spotted things weren't working out so did something about instead of whingeing. I think that takes courage as you're always going to be knocked by some for taking a step back. It looks like you're in it for easy pickings. However, sometimes you have to take a step back ... do you can then take two steps forward.

[bella]

he certainly made the right decision in terms of moving backwards. he was in a position where he had to re-establish himself, like jonny points out, and he's done it very well this year. plus it'll make it slightly easier to get sponsors for next year, he's actually proven himself properly at a level now.

[Tallie]

Originally posted by Clyde Ankle
If Barber's winning it's because he's good. I don't understand this mentality which regards experience as being an unfair advantage.

Surely it is in the interest of the driver to be in a championship where he is going to do well, it's what the sponsors want and helps get support for the next season in a higher category.

Experience is an advantage. it isnt my mentality, its fact. your right, it is in the interest of the driver to be in a championship where he'll do well, so to move up... but, hasn't Barber already been there and not shown himself?

[TVR]

The boy is very good, fact. And he would beat any of the last 4 years works Van Diemen drivers,Courtney, Van der ende
Coranson, Long , Kane ,so give him Credit....

[Tallie]

yeah, he's fantastic in a ff... his results proove that! but he's gone the wrong way.. from f3 to ff! if im wrong here tell me, but isnt it normally the other way round?

my opinion is that you have quoted some very good drivers there and barber wouldnt beat them.

[Andrew Kitson]

Best thing Westley did was come back to dominate Zetec. He has age on his side afterall. A lot of factors contribute to his success, the best team and the best engine builder in FF history, Trevor Van Rooyen. Trevor builds his Scholar engine. He built the legendary 'patch' Minister engine of the late 70s early 80s that won so many races and festivals.