Josh Files endured another tough weekend in TCR Europe, after the KCMG Honda driver retired from the second race at Assen when he crashed into a tyre stack early in the race.
Files was following close behind Dániel Nagy’s Hyundai on the opening lap of the race when he found himself unsighted to one of the tyre stacks designed to prevent corner cutting.
The Brit went straight into the tyres, damaging his Civic and forcing him to retire in the pits the following lap.
“I made a reasonable start and everything was running smoothly, until I was behind Nagy into the last chicane,” explained Files to TouringCars.Net. “I turned in, went right and left, right up his bumper, and I think he was about to hit the tyre stack so he veered off right at the last minute.
“I was too committed and went straight through the tyres; I was completely unsighted because I was so close. It broke the radiator and the gearbox actuator, because I got stuck in fifth gear as well.
“It was my fault – I can’t find an excuse on that one.”
Files has slipped even further behind in the drivers’ title fight, and he leaves The Netherlands seventh overall in the standings, 60 points behind, having lost a further 16 points at the weekend.
Files’ team-mate Attila Tassi won the race, meanwhile, and as a result Files says he will seek to support the young Hungarian in the final two events of the year.
“I’m really happy for Attila – he drove well – and I’m happy for the team as at least Attila got to show our pace this weekend because it’s been pretty mental.
“At least with Attila’s 25 points actually those are quite good for points for the team. But ultimately, it’s not been ideal.
“The important thing now is that with Attila’s score there he might have potentially got himself into title contention, so the big push will be to help him.”
Files is, however, not predicting the next event at Monza in Italy to be kind to the Honda Civic cars.
“I don’t think Monza will go well. It will be very much a VAG [Volkswagen-Audi Group] circuit, and the Peugeot won’t be bad either, because they’ve got good power.
“I think the Hondas and the Hyundais will struggle, but you never know – I might be wrong!”