James Nash Slovakia event summary

Character building in Slovakia

James Nash, Ford Focus S2000 TC, Team Aon

Photo by: xpb.cc

Reigning British Touring Car Independent Champion James Nash unfortunately left the Slovakiaring circuit near Bratislava on Sunday night empty handed after a near disastrous weekend in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

Celebrations for a season-best 4th and two Championship points in Qualifying soon turned sour for the Team Aon driver when his Ford Focus failed a ride height check on one corner only of the car following a component breakage. Even though the failure had not allowed Nash a performance advantage he was demoted ten places on the starting grid.

Second only to World Champion Yvan Muller in the morning Warm-up practice session, brought optimism that Nash might just be able to salvage something from his lowly grid start. Unfortunately, those hopes were soon to be extinguished as Nash was tagged by another car on the opening lap of race one, breaking his car and causing him to crash out. The resultant damage to the Ford Focus sadly was too severe to be repaired in time for the second race

James Nash: “Today has been what people call ‘character building’. We’ve been quick in all the practice and qualifying sessions this weekend, which is very encouraging. It is a shame therefore that we haven’t been able to demonstrate the real progress we’ve made with the Ford Focus in the races where it really counts.”

“Racing is always scrappy on the first lap but the penalty put us back into the thick of the action. I actually made quite a good start and got up to 8th but then got hit by Tiago Monteiro’s Seat. The impact was enough to push me into the gravel which cut through a brake line though I only discovered this when I stood on the brakes for the next corner and nothing happened!”

“The final hit with the barriers was quite hard. Afterwards I got taken to the Medical Centre for a check-up which fortunately proved I was okay.”

“The best thing to do now is to put this weekend behind us and look forward. Fortunately, there is only a week until the next races in Hungary and I’ll be more determined than ever there to make up for today’s disappointment.”