James Nash not please with qualifying time in Shanghai

Near and far

Milton Keynes-based World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) racer James Nash will start tomorrow’s two WTCC races in China from the 8th row of the grid in his Team Aon Ford Focus. His 15th best time was better than 13 other drivers managed to do in the season-record 28 car entry and places Nash firmly in midfield.

Indeed, such is the current level of competition in the WTCC that Nash’s qualifying time on the 4.6 kilometre-long Shanghai International Circuit was less than a tenth of a second slower than that recorded by the BMW of Stefano D’Aste, already a double race winner this season and which was good enough to qualify the Italian for the all-important top 12 shoot-out for pole position.

James Nash: “ We’ve had a run of disappointing events lately and l was really hoping we could change that here and we could get back into the top 12. I ought to be encouraged that we have made progress and almost got there but like all racing drivers I’m a very competitive animal so to miss the target by such a small margin is frustrating.”

“That said the Shanghai circuit is a long and very wide track and I think we’ll see some good touring car action in the races with plenty of overtaking hopefully. The aim from where I’ll be starting the races has got to be two top ten finishes and some more Championship points."

Sunday’s two races will be shown live on British Eurosport with coverage commencing at 0715 (UK).

James Nash End