Reigning TCR UK champion Dan Lloyd was delighted with his cutback overtaking move on Nelson Panciatici to complete the final spot on the TCR Europe podium in race one at the Red Bull Ring.
The Brutal Fish Racing Driver has enjoyed a strong weekend at the Spielberg circuit, topping both practice sessions yesterday before heading the third row on the grid for the opening contest.
At the start, Lloyd managed to get ahead of Davit Kajaia before pressurising third-placed Panciatici for the remainder of the race.
On the penultimate lap, Lloyd forced Panciatici to go defensive into turn four, before switching back to the inside into Würth Curve to secure third position.
“It was really good, very, very happy with that. Following the Hyundais, they’re just incredibly quick in a straight line,” Lloyd told TouringCars.Net.
“After the first main straight and the next straight down to the hairpin, it was tough to capitalise on our strength in the corners.
“It was just making the gap back up around the rest of the circuit so it was about following him and following him, and then on the second to last lap I got the closest I got to him.
“I showed my nose, he made a little bit of a mistake and then I made the move stick when it counted. So yeah, really really pleased with that.
“I didn’t think we were going to have a chance then, but I drove really well so I’m very happy.”
With a long safety car period meaning Lloyd had little time to progress further thereafter, he admitted he felt he could have played to the Honda’s strengths over a race distance.
“If it was just on normal pace, I don’t think I could have. But from what I’ve heard after the race, they were all struggling with the brakes,” explained Lloyd.
“The Honda’s strength – our pace is the brakes. So you never know, hopefully tomorrow there isn’t a safety car because that could play into our hands a little bit.
“They’ve got the straight line speed but we’ve got strong brakes. So hopefully that won’t happen tomorrow.”
For tomorrow’s reverse-grid race, Lloyd again starts from fifth position, and feels his strategy to save fresher rubber for the race could pay dividends.
“It should be good, we’ve got an even fresher set of tyres tomorrow,” he said.
“We saved them for the reverse grid and we’ve got the pace on the cars in front so it’d be nice to have too strong finishes.
“I’m feeling good.”
Race two of the TCR Europe weekend at the Red Bull Ring is scheduled to get underway tomorrow at 11:30 CEST [10:30 BST].