Sébastien Loeb Racing’s Tom Chilton says he is ‘over the moon’ with his first World Touring Car Championship win at the wheel of a Citroën in the Opening Race in Argentina.
From second on the grid, Chilton used his grid position to maximum effect to take the lead away from John Filippi as the lights went out at the start.
The Brit was then able to hold on to his lead to claim his first WTCC win since China in 2014, ending a run of 45 races without a victory at the top level of touring cars.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, my first win of the year,” said a delighted Chilton. “It was definitely not easy out there because it’s a circuit where it’s very easy to make a mistake and it’s also very hard on the tyres.
“I worked very hard with the team this weekend and Sébastien Loeb Racing has done a fantastic job. The Citroëns had strong race pace and I had a good fight with my rivals. They were closing on me and I was worried it would come down to the line so I’m absolutely over the moon.
“After a few seconds and thirds this year it’s great to get this first win.”
Chilton followed up his victory in the Opening Race with ninth in the Main Race and as a result he moves up to eighth overall in the drivers’ championship standings, just fourteen points behind team-mate Mehdi Bennani.