2013-12-09 09:17:19.2
For the first time since the announcement was made that IMSD Racing would split up at the end of the season, Eddie has been talking about his decision to leave and revealed that this decision had been on the cards for some time.
Last month Eddie announced he would be leaving IMSD Racing at the end of the season and a few hours later, Stephen Deuchar (IMSD team captain) released a statement announcing that IMSD Racing would not be competing next year (view the story on the Official IMSD Racing website).
“As far back as Spa 2005 Stephen said that he would probably pack it in when he’s 50 and by that time would be supporting Seth’s career anyway. It was also that weekend that Ian [Miller] also started making noises about cutting back his commitments, so the writing was really on the wall there.
“Of course we went on to win at Spa that weekend and then went on to win the championship so any thoughts anybody had about retirement were far away.
“For me the problems really started last season. We came into 2006 on the back of an amazing year in 2005 and I think we all expected to be in a similar position in the Prem Clubman Championship – challenging for wins and the championship.
”It became painfully obvious right from the opening race that we were off the pace and we had lost some of our edge from the previous year. Aside from our dominant win at Spa, the whole season was a bit of a disappointment really (in comparison to 2005 anyway) and I personally felt that it was the right time to call it a day at the end of last season. To be honest, I nearly didn’t sign on for 2007 because I knew that we weren’t going to be very strong but in the end loyalty won out. We are a great team and I enjoy racing with the guys and I have a lot of trust and respect for them all and I think the feeling is mutual.”
Eddie went on to say that he has no regrets about the 2007 season.
“Not really. I mean, in hindsight, perhaps I should have gone elsewhere but at the end of the day we deserve our place in the Prems and we are here on merit. Over the past 5 years the team have gone from the rookies, the City Challenge, the Inters and the Clubman and have achieved success in every category and we are here because we have to be. Basically we are too good to be anywhere else!”
Eddie stressed that the split was a mutual, and very amicable, decision and has not ruled out driving together at some point in the futre.
