James Nash heads into rounds 21 and 22 of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship looking to secure his first points finish since the Salzburgring in May.
The Team Aon Ford Focus driver will start both races from 15th position, having missed the top 12 shootout by a tenth of a second; double race winner Stefano D’Aste rounded out the top 12. His qualifying result leaves him in the midfield of the 28 car grid at the home of the Chinese Grand Prix.
“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,” explains the Milton Keynes-based racer.
Looking ahead to the races, Nash is hoping to move forwards from 15th and secure a points finish, with the 4.6km circuit looking to offer overtaking opportunities.
“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,” concludes Nash, who is currently 18th in the drivers’ Championship.