Martin Depper was left elated after scoring the best finish of his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship career in the first contest at Thruxton after finishing fourth amid the chaos that led to the race being red-flagged.
Having spent the majority of the first race at the tail end of the leading group, Depper was able to capitalise as several cars took avoiding action and crossed the line at the end of lap eleven in fifth, the point at which the race result was taken.
Speaking to TouringCars.net shortly after climbing from his Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type-R, an energised Depper enthused about a strong performance and believes that despite the crash, he was still on to a personal best performance.
“It’s my best race finish so far and the day isn’t over yet, the best two races are yet to come!” he grinned.
“It was a fantastic race, I’m really pleased with my pace today, we were hanging on the back of that lead group and the car was strong. Without all of those shenanigans, I think it still would have been my best finish anyway. I’m very excited for race two.”
Tyre wear was a massive talking point during the first of three races in Hampshire this afternoon [8th May], and Depper pointed to his personal ability to manage his rubber as beneficial moving forward, though the remaining two races this afternoon will run to a reduced distance of twelve laps.
“They are [car is good on the tyres], but to be fair out of the team the guys keep telling me I’m the kindest on my tyres and that really does help me.”
Depper was pleased to score his best ever result as Eurotech Racing make their best start to a season since 2014 in a bid to return to the front of the grid in the post-Jordan era.
“Well it’s my third full season and I was thinking in midweek that I’m a bit cheesed off with finishing in the midfield,” mused Depper.
“The team deserve better and the cars are certainly able to do more, and I really need to get my finger out and start showing it.”
Heading into the second race, which gets underway at 14:32, Depper was pleased to be starting alongside team-mate Jeff Smith and is expecting another strong result for the duo, with series returnee Daniel Lloyd sitting 12th in the third Eurotech Honda.
“It’s fantastic to be starting next to my team-mate, I think we’re going to have a great second race and I’m really looking forward to it.”