Nash in the driving seat for the big time
RACING star James Nash has taken a huge step up to race in the World Touring Car Championship in 2012.
The Newport Pagnell driver will race alongside Tom Chilton with Team AON.
Last year, Nash came away from the British Touring Car Championship series as the Independent Drivers’ Champion.
The step up to WTCC level will see him racing a Ford Focus alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, but Nash said he can’t wait to test his mettle against the touring car elite.
“Taking the step up into the WTCC is a great challenge and very exciting,” he said. “The whole Team AON and Ford package is fantastic. With Ford’s support and Team AON’s detailed knowledge of the car I’m hugely looking forward to what I hope will be another rewarding season.
“Of course, as a reigning British Champion it has been a difficult decision to move away from the National series. I had offers to stay but quite honestly the lure of world competition was too strong to resist.
“I can’t wait to go wheel to wheel with people like three-time World Champion Yvan Muller, Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Gabriele Tarquini. I’ve grown up watching them race and I’m itching to get behind the wheel and make my own mark too.
“Helping the team to develop the Focus is also something I’m really looking forward to. Last year with the Triple Eight team budget was tight and anyway the Vauxhall cars we used were pretty much fully developed.
“The Focus though is new and already in pre-season testing I’ve found a few things that enabled me and my new team-mate lap to close to qualifying record speed.”
The first round of the WTCC series is in March at the famous Monza circuit in Italy.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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