One step at a time
ASH Walsh is going to have his hands full in the next couple of weeks.
Walsh is busy preparing to open the bottleshop on Brisbane Street he is managing, while striving for his best result in the Dunlop V8 development series.
The bottleshop opens on July 24 and Walsh is hosting a fundraiser at the Stumps Hotel adjoining it on July 28.
The day before he puts his Ford Falcon though its paces at a Queensland Raceway test day.
It is all part of the life of an aspiring racing driver without an endless supply of money.
"In Townsville we sort of headed in one direction with the front end," Walsh said of his car's performance in the previous round of the development series.
"Now we're trying to get the rear sorted.
"We were more competitive in Townsville so it is a matter of fine-tuning the rest around it."
Walsh's limited budget and older car (2007) than most of his rivals make it hard.
But the calm 24-year-old, who is in his second season in the V8 development series, doesn't let it bother him.
"I'm not frustrated by it," Walsh said. "The most important thing you're told is just do the best with the equipment you've got.
"I don't feel I did that last year but this year so far, so good.
"Sometimes it is better to be in this position."
A driver doing his best in difficult circumstances is more likely to impress the "main game" V8 Supercar teams than a driver with everything at his disposal who doesn't win races.
"If I continue to go the way I've been going, get a few more podiums and even a win, I'll be happy," Walsh said of his goals for the rest of the season.
"Top five is my goal at the moment. I'm sixth now because of what happened in Townsville (crashing in race three).
"I feel I'm improving each time so it's definitely possible.
"The more I race with the team and the group of engineers, the more confident I am I can do it."
Walsh's career projection has been slower than most ambitious young drivers would like, since finishing third in his rookie year of Formula Ford in 2006.
It is has often been a case of two steps forward, one step back, but Walsh is comfortable where he sits at the moment.
"I think now I'm in the best position I've been in," he said.
If he is to get a win this season, he will have few better chances than next round at Queensland Raceway, from August 3.
"It's the most important for me," Walsh said.
"It's my home round in my home state. I'm coming off some pretty good results.
"I'm hoping it's my most successful round of the year."
Even if he does post a win or more this season, Walsh thinks he'll still be driving in the development series next year.
"Hopefully I can get a good enduro seat (at Bathurst and Sandown)," he said of his 2013 goals. "Then you can show what you can do in the main game."
