Maximum Motorsport’s Carl Swift says he is ‘chuffed’ to score his maiden TCR UK podium after his time penalty was revoked following the reverse-grid race at Castle Combe.
Swift started the race on the front row of the grid and mounted a challenge to eventual winner Dan Lloyd around the outside of Quarry Corner on the opening lap.
He was forced to settle for second before race one winner Taylor passed him, and he then received a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits.
He told TouringCars.Net he was not worried about the time penalty even during the race as he felt it was incorrect, and he was very pleased to record his first TCR UK silverware.
“I’m chuffed,” said Swift. “To be honest I knew it when I was going round and it came over the radio, that it was wrong.
“So I just kept my cool, got my head down and kept him behind me. So the clerk looked at the footage and it was obvious that we were fine – there was not even one penalty – not even a warning should have been given really so it was the right result. It’s just a shame I missed the podium!”
Swift was not short of commitment all weekend at the 1.85-mile Wiltshire circuit, and was consistently sliding around the fast right-hander at Camp Corner.
“It might look fun but on the data it’s not fast! So I’m overdriving because I like that corner,” explained Swift.
“When I slowed it down in the race, the times got better. So I just need to calm myself down I think.”
Swift was promoted to the front row of the grid in race two due to non-starters Darelle Wilson and Finlay Crocker, as well as Derek Palmer being demoted to the back after failing parc fermé rules due to an engine sensor fault in race one.
Swift got a great launch to pressurise Lloyd at the start, and feels he could have made more of an effort if he wasn’t on the outside of the standings leader.
“I was just the wrong side of the track wasn’t I?! I should never have been in second anyway, I don’t know what happened there – but it was a bit of a result.
“I just need to find some qualifying pace now.”
Swift has enjoyed a strong run of form after positive pace at Brands Hatch and this weekend at Castle Combe, and is keen to carry that momentum forward to Oulton Park.
“I think we’re going to see if we can sort an engineer out, we’re going to speak to Cooper to see if we can sort out an engineer for the next round so that we have that qualifying pace – or have a better chance of the qualifying pace.
“That’ll put us further up the grid in race one – and maybe we’ll try that trick that Lloyd tried with the double pole!”