WestCoast Racing’s Dan Lloyd admitted he was “trying to be too clever” in TCR UK qualifying at Castle Combe, after he opted for only one flying lap in an attempt to secure pole for the reverse-grid contest.
Lloyd, who grabbed the last three previous pole positions, was denied late in the half-hour session by Pyro Motorsport’s Ollie Taylor who pipped him by just three thousandths of a second.
After the session, Lloyd admitted he made a conscious decision to try to get both pole positions for tomorrow’s races [15 July].
He told TouringCars.Net he was “frustrated” by the outcome, but he feels he has learnt his lesson and feels confident of his race pace tomorrow.
“We were trying to be too clever in that session,” said Lloyd. “We knew there were ten cars out on the grid – there’s a reverse pole. So the theory was bang one lap in and then go slow-ish for one lap you could then have pole for two races.
“And that’s what I did. I went out and I put a good lap in. Wasn’t perfect but it was good, I was quickest by seven tenths. And then I would have been front row for the second race. Then Ollie [Taylor] went out last minute and did a great time, and pipped me by three thousandths which is frustrating.
“But lessons learnt – trying to be too clever – I am P2 for the second race which is good but in hindsight I would have liked to be pole anyway.
“I’ve still got really good pace so I’m not worried for tomorrow.”
Lloyd will start both races from second on the grid tomorrow, and is aiming for wins in both contests.
“I think we’ve got a good shot of beating him [Taylor] in race one anyway, so we’ll see,” he said.
“Some places are narrow but other places are really wide so I think I might be alright.
“I’ll be going for the win, trying to get past him at some point during the race and it should be good.”