Motorbase Performance’s Tom Chilton says podiums are the aim in the trio of British Touring Car Championship races at Silverstone after a frustrating qualifying session.
Despite lining up third on the grid for race one, Chilton told TouringCars.Net he felt he had the pace for pole but was slowed by Matt Simpson at Luffield on his quickest lap.
“It’s a great feeling – but with all my best sectors I should have been first,” said Chilton. “I got held up a bit by Matt Simpson at Luffield but that only happens when you’re that close trying to get a slipstream.
“Because here it’s about straight line speed as well as chassis. Every single car in front of me I was slipstreaming as close as I could because I know that’s what it’s about.”
Despite describing the session as “annoying,” Chilton admitted he was pleased given the 30kg of success ballast he carries by virtue of sitting sixth in the championship standings.
“So I never got my best sectors together,” he explained.
On my last one I was purple in the first sector then I got held up so it’s annoying, because I feel like I should be P1 but I’m very happy with P3 with 30 kilos of lead onboard.”
In today’s [16th September] three races, Chilton is aiming for podiums but anticipating a drop-off in pace for race two in which he will run the harder compound Dunlop rubber.
“I think we’ve got a great race car – an even better race car – so I’m quietly confident,” said Chilton.
“I’m hoping I can get a podium in race one, although I would love to win it. We’ll drop down through the field in race two because I’ve got the hard tyre on which is slow.
“Then hopefully for the reverse grid will be another podium.”