Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish says he and his Team Dynamics squad will have their “heads held high” regardless of what happens in the remaining two races of the 2019 British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.
The double Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion stormed from 12th on the grid in the opening encounter to take victory in a dramatic rain-affected race which saw Team Dynamics take a 1-2 as Matt Neal charged through let on in his wet-shod Honda.
Cammish told TouringCars.Net he is glad to have team-mate Neal available to play “rear gunner” in the second contest, but continued to note he can be pleased with the year he’s had even if it doesn’t result in the title.
“More than anyone I’ve got Matt, who can play rear gunner from here on in,” said Cammish. “I’m going to get my head down, drive the wheels off the thing and see what comes.
“That’s all I can do at the end of the day. I think at the end of that drive I actually said in the car – you know – whatever happens now, we can have our heads held high.
“That was a mega effort and we’ve had a great season with a lot of podiums and a lot of success.
“It’s only my second year in a front-wheel drive car ever, and it’s only my second year in touring cars. Being in this position is mega, but if it’s not to be then I’ve got two more years to look forward to.”
Progressing 12 positions in changeable conditions, Cammish noted he needed a fair share of luck to go his way, as well as making a key decision to stay out on slicks as many runners towards the rear pitted behind the safety car.
“When you’re doing it, you’re just conscious of not making a mistake,” he explained. “There was a few times where I was just locking a brake or just had a moment where you see the grass or gravel coming.
“You’re going so softly with every input thinking, ‘Just grip, just bite. Let me off this time!’
“I had a few moments coming through, I touched Sutton at one point and it knocked me sideways and I caught it and the gravel was right there.
“I think I used all my luck in that moment. I couldn’t be more pleased, the guys gave me a great car and we rolled the dice staying out.
“Matt pitted and I had the option, but I said we’ll do what BMW do because I knew if they stayed out then I could beat them because they don’t work in those conditions.
“Then I heard that ten people had pitted and I thought that’s not good because even if I get the BMWs I could still finish tenth and take all the points away.
“I think we could have done it even if we pitted, Matt showed that but we did it the hard way and I’m very happy with that.”
With just two races remaining to cap off the 2019 season, Cammish admitted he had prepared himself to simply consolidate third position in the standings, but now feels he has the “track position” advantage which will allow him to challenge for the title.
“Last night I prepared myself for a really hard day and to try to consolidate the top three in this championship. OK, we’ve sparked it alive again but all we’re going to do is focus on the next one.
“We know we’re a lot faster in the rain than we showed yesterday, and I’m confident that we will be next time. We know how fast the BMWs are in the rain, but I’ve got track position now, let’s see what we can do.
“I was expecting to try to get close and take it at least to the next one, but I was hoping maybe that something would happen at the front.
“You’re just hoping for a little bit of a miracle – was that one? It might have just been, you never know. I’ll tell you at the end of the day!”