Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish admitted the opening British Touring Car Championship race at Silverstone was “like a role reversal” from last weekend’s opening race at Thruxton between himself and Tom Ingram.
In similar fashion to the opening race last time out in Hampshire, it was Ingram who got the better jump off the line but this time around polesitter Cammish was able to stand his ground into Copse for the first time.
While the pair initially swapped positions when the safety car was called on lap five, Ingram was forced to give the lead back to Cammish upon review, and the latter was able to fend off the pressure from the Toyota Corolla to extend his lead to over a second at the chequered flag.
After the race, the 2019 runner-up told ITV he was “so conscious” of making a good start after struggling in that regard at Thruxton, and that he was relieved the positions were reversed back under the safety car.
“Happy days! Tom [Ingram] didn’t make that easy, did he? I was so conscious of the start, I wanted to make a good one,” said Cammish.
“I think me and Tom were about the same but, because I covered him off, I was so busy watching his front bumper that I kind of forgot to brake for turn one so ended up miles off the road, but thankfully I kept it together and off we went!
“Tom gave a good chase though. He had a lot of traction in those opening laps, he was able to drive lines that I just couldn’t quite get to and he actually got the lead. Thankfully for me, it was sort of under the safety car so I was happy to hear over the radio that we could reverse the positions!”
Cammish observed that Ingram’s Toyota was stronger in terms of front end grip, especially in the opening laps of the race when he was able to get up the inside on the exit of Luffield, but felt the pace for his FK8 Honda Civic Type R became stronger as the race wore on.
“I didn’t think the door was open but he’s got so much front end,” said Cammish. I’ve seen over the last couple of years how they set that car up and he can really use the front to rotate the car and maybe we’re a little bit lazier.
“But to be honest I also think he kind of ran out of front as the race went on and my car was consistent, and I managed to pull away in the end. It was a great drive by him. It was like a role reversal from last week – he made me work for it! But I’m really pleased to have got the victory.”
Cammish continued to admit he was relieved to hold position off the line “after three terrible starts” at Thruxton, but is focussing on bolstering the race one win with strong results throughout the day at Silverstone.
“It does mean a lot a lot to lead off the front and soak up the pressure and, to be honest, to get it off the line.
“After three terrible starts last week, 95% of that race was done in the opening corner, that could have been very different. But it’s not over yet, still got more to do and keep it consistent.
“It’s been a great opening race, I’m really pleased. The guys have given me a great car all weekend so a massive thanks to Team Dynamics and now we move forward. Let’s see if we can keep racking those points up.”
The second British Touring Car Championship race of the weekend at Silverstone is scheduled to get underway at 14:47 BST.