A seasoned saloon car racer from Inverness put Europe’s top trailer maker in pole position when his son decided to follow him on to the track.

After seven successful seasons competing in the British Touring Car Championships Dave Newsham has hung up his driving gloves to guide the budding racing career of 18-year-old Callum.

And when he was putting together a dedicated support team for the newcomer his first choice for a vehicle to move Callum’s high-powered race car plus back-up equipment to competition days around the UK was a bespoke Transporta model from Ifor Williams Trailers, supplied by the company’s main distributor for North Highlands, D&R Alexander & Son.

Dave, 50, is originally from Carmarthen in South Wales but moved with his family to Leyland in Lancashire where he was brought up.

Over 20 years ago he moved to Inverness to set up his own business, Northscott Vending Services Ltd, which supplies coffee and cold drinks machines across the north of Scotland.

Dave started racing motorbikes as a youngster and eventually moved on to four-wheel racers.

In 2006 he drove a saloon car to fourth place in the Legends World Final in California and in 2010 powered to victory in the Renault Clio Cup.

A year later he became a regular in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and during his career with a succession of top-class racing teams notched up eight podium finishes including a couple of outright victories.

At the wheels of mighty machines such as BMWs, SEATs, Toyotas and Chevrolets he tested his skill around some of Britain’s most famous circuits, including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Donnington Park.

But after seven glittering seasons he reckoned it was time to pull up the handbrake on his own racing days so he could head up his son’s new track team.

Dave said: “I’ve decided to step down from the BTCC to help nurture Callum’s racing.

“He started driving two years ago, competing in club karting in Scotland. Having progressed to become a frontrunner in the domestic series he’ll now make the leap into racing a 265 bhp John Cooper Works car in the Mini Challenge series.

“It’s great to see him following in my footsteps. I’ll now be the manager of the Newsham Racing team and also his mentor.

“I’ve had a good run with my own racing, and now it’s time for Callum to have a go and I wanted to be right there to support him.

“We’ve just bought a second-hand JCW Mini and we’re now setting it up ready for Callum’s debut which will be at Oulton Park in Cheshire over the Easter weekend.

“It’ll be quite a test as there will be around 30 cars on the grid alongside him. He’s in at the deep end, but I know he’ll swim just fine.”

Dave added: “I’ve been spending an absolute fortune on putting the team together and the bill so far is approaching £100,000.

“To transport the car and other back-up equipment to events across the UK I’ve bought an Ifor Williams Transporta which is just perfect for what we need.

“It’s about six metres long, fully enclosed and there’s quite a bit of extra kit inside, including a wheel rack, workbench and LED lights along the sides, all of which we’ll need to create our own mobile pit garage.

“I’ve also had a five-foot square awning purpose-built to open up at the side of trailer which will have a plastic floor so the mechanics aren’t working on tarmac.

“I went for a Transporta from Ifor Williams Trailers for a number of reasons. Mainly, I’m very impressed with the quality of it. It’s built more substantially than other trailers at that price many of which are only fibre-glass.

“I’ve used Ifor Williams trailers before in my business and for Callum’s karting so I know how good they are. I also have a very good working relationship with the company’s main distributor in this area, D&R Alexander.

“Callum, who works as a general assistant with me in the business, has just passed his trailer towing test so he’ll be helping me to drive the Transporta around the country.”        

D&R Alexander & Son are the North Highlands’ main distributor for Ifor Williams Trailers.

Established in 1982 and with premises in both Reay, Caithness and Inverness, they are a family-run business with over 30 years of experience in dealing with Ifor Williams.

Sales executive Charlie McKay who fixed Dave up with the Transporta said: “It’s the perfect trailer for motorsport enthusiasts, small racing teams and classic car owners and because it’s fully enclosed it offers protection from the elements whilst transporting and storing high value vehicles.

“For easy loading of a vehicle the back end tilts down to ground level operated by an hydraulic mechanism in the front. The model we supplied to Dave is fitted with a rack for spare tyres, a workbench and LED lights along both sides.

“I’m quite a fan of motor racing myself and it’s great to have been able to help a new driver like Callum at the start of what I hope will be a very successful career.

“The Transporta is just what his team needs for getting everything safely from up here in the north of Scotland to circuits all over the UK.”

Andrew Reece-Jones, the Design Engineering Manager at Ifor Williams Trailers, said: “I’m glad that Dave and Callum are so pleased with their Transporta which is proving very popular with people involved in motorsports at all levels.

“I would like to wish them well with the new racing team and I’m glad we are playing a part on their road to success.”

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News » Europe’s top trailer maker gets budding race ace Callum off to flying start with new team transport