Team CTS - Solid foundations and resilience

By Brendan Todio

Since their debut, one of Drift Australia's most successful and loyal teams have always been aiming high and within three years of their inception, they have managed to take the Drift Australia championship.

Throughout the journey, it hasn't been a stable ride with four drivers in as many years, however the solid foundation of the team, their sponsors support and the car has always kept Team CTS strong and in championship contention.

Bill Bromley, the team owner/manager and the owner of Commercial Truck Sales chats with Drift Australia about his drift team, it's professionalism, what comes with their success and the drift industry moving forward.

Drift Australia: Thanks for taking the time to have a quick chat with us. It seems that you used the unfortunate events of 2009 (The Drift Australia 2009 season being reduced due to the GFC - ed. note: I'm hoping I don't have to mention that term ever again!) to your advantage to prepare for a huge 2010. It seems that you have a knack of looking negatives with a positive attitude and then come up trumps! How much of your resilience factor contributes to the success of your team?

Bill Bromley: Yes, it’s totally dependent on my resilience as failure is not an option.

DA: Is this the success formula behind Team CTS?
BB: Definitely.

DA: Bring a successful team also seems to attract some criticism from other peers. It seems that not everybody can be happy for your achievements and would take the chance to attack you and your team at any chance they get. How do you absorb such criticism and do you dismiss it or use it to make your and your team stronger?
BB: Yes, being a successful team does attract criticism, as does life in general, when you are successful. The criticism only makes us strive to be a better team.

DA: Team CTS have changed drivers every year, does that always halt your progression to having a stable team? Every time you change drivers, does the whole crew have to re-establish that trust and understanding factor all over again?
BB: No I don’t believe that it halts our progression to have a stable team. There is always a settling in period for driver and team.  The whole crew does have to re-establish trust but once trust is quickly established within the team I believe we then have our top package.

DA: Do you see Simon (Podlewski) with Team CTS beyond 2010?
BB: Yes I do.

DA: Unfortunately, Team CTS didn't manage to repeat your 2008 success in 2009, however you have mentioned that 2009 is a preparation year for 2010. With the return of familiar faces, do you see your preparations exceeding the increased competition that is due to arrive in 2010?
BB: Taking in to consideration the minimal time Simon had in the CTS car, I believe 2nd placing at Oran Park was extremely well done by Simon, he would have been under extreme pressure for a one off event.  Our preparations always exceed the increased competition.

DA: Most of the teams I have spoken to thus far have an automotive affiliation of some sort; and Team CTS is not really any different. Tell us about Commercial Truck Sales and what they do?
BB: Commercial Truck Sales is one of Adelaide’s leading used truck dealerships and covers all types of trucks for the transport industry.

DA: Anybody involved with Drift Australia are always faced with significant travel costs. Being involved with truck sales must give Team CTS a big boost as far as transportation costs go. How true is that statement? Does it give a big boost or are you still faced with significant transportation costs?
BB: As a used truck dealership our costs are no different to others, in fact our costs are possibly higher with the race transporter and spares that we carry to each event.

DA: I am probably safe to say that every stakeholder within Drift Australia has gone through their fair share of struggles of all kinds and their passion for drift has kept the sport alive. Team CTS is one of the main protagonists of that statement. Where do you see the future of drift heading?
BB: I believe with the vision of the new owners of DA and all teams working together for a common goal, drifting in my opinion will be become the top level form of motor sport throughout Australia.

DA: What other significant events / changes do you think need to occur in order for the drift industry to progress? Do you also think there is a common understanding between stakeholders in the industry?
BB: I feel that on a national level, as in other countries, there should be no restrictions on cars. I don’t believe there is a common understanding between license holders and DA. I would like to see license holders and the organisers of DA to come together for periodic meetings for general discussions to take drifting in Australia to the top level that it will be.

DA: We're all working towards big things for Drift Australia 2010 and we welcome Team CTS (and all other stakeholders) to be a big part of progressing drift. Thank you for your time Bill and good luck with Drift Australia 2010.
BB: Thanks Greg & all staff at DA.