TCR Europe championship leader Josh Files believes the inclement weather at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya played a role in the Hyundai i30 N TCR’s strong showing in qualifying.
Files will line up on the front row of the grid for the opening race behind Target Competition team mate Andreas Backman, the gap between them in qualifying 0.325 seconds.
His closest title rivals Julien Briche and Luca Engstler start behind in third and twelfth respectively.
Though the double TCR Germany and once TCR Middle East champion cannot mathematically secure the title in race one, it could lay vital groundwork to get the honours sewn up tomorrow.
Speaking to TouringCars.net in Spain, Files underlined his belief that the wet circuit surface helped the Hyundai versus the competition, saying he expected to be among the Q2 runners, but not in the fight for pole position.
“It was two things, really; I was smiling, because I like the rain, but also a little bit uncertain, because we’ve never driven the car in the rain and we didn’t know how to set it up, so we made a bit of a guess based on our knowledge of the car, which obviously paid off,” explained Files.
“I was prepared for it and ready to push on, but the rain absolutely helped us get on the front row, because otherwise we could have managed Q2, maybe, but it might have been more for a reverse-grid chance, than outright for pole.”
When asked if he would prefer a wet race, with the forecast still a matter of contention, Files explained that the lack of wet-weather running in race trim would be a disadvantage, so on balance perhaps dry conditions would be better, even with the headache that would bring on the weight front.
“Yes and no, because we’ve got one-lap pace, but we haven’t ever done a long distance run. At least with the slicks, we know where we stand.
“I mean, it’s the same for everyone, so you take what you get.”
Conditions gradually shifted towards a drier line during qualifying; had Q2 been a race, Files says slicks would have been his choice, but ultimately the transition happened too slowly to justify it during qualifying.
“I think if Q2 was a race, I’d have started on slicks, because it was the only way forward,” he admitted.
“But, given that it was so on the limit and it was still so greasy, wets were really the only option to put in some proper fast times.”
Looking ahead to the opening race at 17:20 CEST, Files says he’s focused on bringing home a third victory of the campaign, but was more interested in having a hard, fair race with those around.
“I, like Andreas, will want to win the race. I mean, it’s very hard to understand anything because everything is based on your start and the first few corners.
“Obviously we do have in mind – slightly – the championship, so we’re not going to do anything stupid and having a team mate in Andreas with me is really great.
“But Briche is a very fast-starting Peugeot, as will the Clairet brothers be, so it’s not going to be an easy race, but I don’t mind; for me, I’d like a nice, fair, hard touring car race.
“That’s what people want to see, that’s what I want to have and that’d be great. And I think the cars are all similar performance so, why not?”