MKNews
First World Touring Car points for Nash
Points on the board: James Nash
JamesNash claimed his first World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) points at the season’s third meeting in Morocco this weekend.
The city driver, racing a Ford Focus for Team AoN, finished sixth in the second race at the Marrakech street circuit after starting on pole position under reverse grid rules.
Nash led the race until the half way point, until he was passed on lap five of 11 by a pair of Chevrolets led by reigning World Champion Yvan Muller.
With much faster cars on his tail he managed to hold on to grab sixth spot and eight WTCC points.
In the first race he had been hit from behind on the opening lap, pushing him into a concrete wall and forcing instant retirement.
The team only had ten minutes to repair his car between the two races.
Nash said:“I’m pleased to come away with championship points after what has been a wild weekend one way or another.
“From an early incident in qualifying that could have effectively finished our weekend to then being taken out on the opening lap of race one it really did seem that all was against us.
“I went into race two and sat there on pole position not having completed a single racing lap so I knew before the race started that it was going to be tough.
“Getting a good start obviously helped and I did manage to keep the Chevrolets at bay for five laps, but wow, they’ve got some pace and more.
“The Ford Focus and the engine felt good and once again my mechanics really made it count in the ten minute window for repairs between races.
“Their effort today was a real achievement considering the state the car was in after race one and I am very grateful.”
.
