Sevenoaks racing driver Mike Conway will be back racing in the series he really enjoys racing in for the 2014 season.

He will be back racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Ed Carpenter racing, the two drivers will share the driving commitments.

Mike will drive in his favoured street circuit races whilst Ed will continue to race on the oval circuits making the partnership a perfect fit.

Speaking to exclusively to Kent Sports News, Mike began by reflecting on his successes in the 2013 season.

He said: “It was definitely one of success, we didn’t really have a lot going on going into the year but I then started to pick up a few races and the WEC deal was put together and it started to go from there.

“Until we got to Long Beach we hadn’t really had the results we wanted, and the first races in the WEC weren’t the best either with a few non finishes and then after that it all started to fall together.

“Detroit went well and Le Mans went well, not so much after the disqualification and in terms of things turning around it all started to happen around Detroit time.

“It has been a good year, it has been a lot of fun and I have done a lot of different stuff and I have really enjoyed what I have did last year. It was a good year and when you are winning it is always fun and it has definitely given me a lot more opportunities for the 2014 season.”

Mike won his first IndyCar race last season and experienced his first ever Le Mans race weekend so there were a lot of firsts in the season for him.

He added: “I did a lot of new things last night and I am really looking forward to experiencing all of that for next season as well.

“I was fortunate with the Ed Carpenter deal coming together for this season in terms of Ed thinking of stopping the road course stuff and continuing the oval course racing. It fitted perfectly with me as I don’t want to do the Oval stuff but I want to do the road course stuff. I am extremely thankful for Ed making that decision and making that deal come happen.

“I also have the WEC with Toyota, if I could have hoped for anything last year it would have been to eventually get into an LMP1 role and to have a test/reserve role I couldn’t ask for anymore.”

It is certainly looking as though things are coming together nicely for Conway for the 2014 season and it certainly promises to be another successful campaign.

“There is lots of hard work ahead and I really want to get results straight away with the IndyCar programme and Ed and obviously with Toyota as well.

“I have visited the factory to get to know the team and the car and get to work, I have now tested the new IndyCar as well and then there will be some testing with Toyota in the LMP1 within the next few weeks.

“It is all starting which is great, I had a lazy few weeks over Christmas which is what I needed, just to do nothing and have some quality family time. I am now ready to go, there is going to be a lot more travelling but I am looking forward to get back racing.”

In terms of IndyCar they have a road race title and whilst it would be nice for Mike to win that in his first season back racing all the street circuits it isn’t essential.

He said: “That would be ideal but it is going to be tough, it is always hard in the IndyCar series, but we do have a really good team and I think they have all the resources that they need to win. They have won on the Ovals before and hopefully we can take the team’s first road course win as that would be fantastic.

“I am looking forward to all that is ahead of me, it is going to be a long season and the IndyCar calendar is a bit more jammed in than the WEC one so I think it is going to work out quite nicely to be honest.

“The two schedules aren’t conflicting so I am looking forward to a lot of racing this season and hopefully a few wins as well.”
With FIA World Endurance Championship Mike is going to be the test/reserve driver for their LMP1 team and hopes he will get a few races in to.

He added: “I will get to take part in all their tests including the big 36 hour test that we do as we gear up for the Le Mans day.

“All of that will be very busy, I will do a lot of work at the factory with them and all the testing, all the racing seats are filled up at the moment but you never know when you might have to fill in and race.

“We will see how it goes, it is going to be lots of fun getting in that car, and I can’t wait to see what it is like. It is basically the ex-

Toyota team run from the factory in Cologne so it is a big operation and set-up with a lot of backing and have everything there that they need to win.

“The main aim for all the manufacturers is to win the Le Mans 24 hour race, but the WEC is an important schedule as well. It is quite impressive what they have for 2014, I am not sure what details we can share at the moment. They have a lot of power with some of the rule changes, with smaller tyres and different aero kits and stuff, they look cool already but I think they are going to look different again this year, I can’t wait to get into one now.”

Mike also now has a new and freshly designed website so that he can keep everyone up to date throughout the coming season.

“I thought the website needed a bit of an update, it was a bit dated and it has a clean look for the new season. A few people have asked me if there is going to be any merchandise put up there as of now there won’t be but I would like to do something like that, especially if there is enough of a demand for it.”

“I will keep it updated and there will be a lot of stuff on the Facebook page as well and on Twitter and keeping people up to date with what I am doing, I need to be more proactive on social media.”