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BTCC Driver Profiles - Dan Eaves
Born:
3 June 1975, Worcestershire
Lives:
Morton In Marsh, Gloucestershire
Website: http://www.rtweb.co.uk/daneaves/
2002 Independent's champion Dan Eaves looked to be starting the 2004 season without a drive, but a last minute deal to bring Halfords' sponsorship money to Team Dynamics saw him take his place on the grid, a place which he retains for 2005. Got engaged in July.
Career highlights:
2006 Linked to Team Halfords but revealed in January that he would be required to bring substantial funding to the team. Explored other possibilties (notably WSR) but started the season without a drive.
See also: 2006 pre-season interview
2005 BTCC with Team Halfords, Honda Integra. Started with a stong run of results at Donington, the third race seeing him finish second just inches behind his team mate. Made history at Thruxton by becoming the first ever driver to win all three races in one day, despite the reverse grid rule, to take the lead in the championship. Made a mistake in the first Brands race, but recovered strongly to add two more podiums to his collection. At Croft he was punted down the order by Jason Plato in the second race, but recovered to 10th and converted the resultant pole position into a fine race three victory to stay one point ahead of Muller for 2nd in the championship. However, two wins for Muller at Mondello and Snetterton saw Eaves demoted to third despite a pair of podiums in Norfolk. Things went downhill at Knockhill where James Kaye knocked him off into the scenery, although he did salvage thirteen points to retain 3rd place in the title race. He was back on the podium at Silverstone - but only the once - but a relatively poor performance by Muller meant that 2nd place was becoming a possibility. At Brands Hatch he scored his first pole position, setting a new lap record in the process, and converted that into a comprehensive lights-to-flag win, showing great racecraft during the restart after a safety car period. Another podium place followed but in race three he was invoved in an incident with Muller which put them both (and Plato) out of the running. He finished the season in 3rd place with 269 points, just 4 behind Yvan.
See also: 2005 pre-season interview
2004 BTCC with Computeach Racing with Halfords, a last minute deal to race an ex-works Civic alongside Matt Neal. Racked up a string of points finishes, finally took his first overall BTCC victory at Oulton Park. Podiums followed at Mondello and Croft, but at the latter he was unlucky to be punted off by Colin Turkington. Two solid performances at Knockhill saw him on the podium, but at Brands he suffered with a fire in the car. Good strong drive at Snetterton, helping Matt in the process, but race 2 ruined by James Kaye.
2003 BTCC with Team Halfords, Peugeot 307 run by VLR. A brand new car proved difficult to set up, and it was only from Croft onwards that Dan was able to show his pace. 2 class wins propelled him to 4th in the Independents' Cup.
2002 BTCC Independents' Cup Winner - Peugeot 406 run by VLR under the Team Halfords brand.
2001 BTCC - Peugeot 406 - 5th
2000 National Saloon Car Championship - 4th
1999 National Saloon Car Championship - 4th; Asia Touring Car Challenge Race (China) - winner
1998 Renault Spider Cup - Champion; Williams touring car test
1995 Caterham K Series Championship - 2nd
1994 Halfords MG Midget Challenge - 3rd
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