Tom Chilton heads to the Nürburgring Nordschleife for this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship races in a positive mood, as he hopes to continue a recent run of podium finishes.
Having finished on the podium in both of the last two WTCC races in Hungary, Chilton is hoping to carry the momentum into this weekend’s races on the legendary Nordschleife in Germany.
The Brit has good form at the 25.9 km circuit, having stood on the podium in both of last year’s WTCC races at the track, behind double winner José María López.
“Last time I was there I got the fastest lap in the races, and a double podium with second and third, and at my last round I got a second and third, so I’m kind of hoping that it all rolls on into next weekend,” said Chilton to TouringCars.Net.
“I was 3.3 seconds faster than my team-mate in qualifying last year, so I’m hoping that I can do the same again this year.
“In qualifying our car was off the works [Citroën] cars, like it was all year, but in race pace we were always the same and I was the fastest.”
Chilton says that he has a knack for learning circuits, and as a result is not daunted by the prospect of having to re-learn the 170-turn circuit and its various surface changes.
“I know this circuit off by heart, so I don’t need [simulators]. I’ve got a weird brain – I’m not very good at lots of things, but remembering tracks, for some reason, I’m very good at. I learnt the Nordschleife in four laps! I can even tell you were all the tarmac changes are.
“I just know all of the nooks and crannies. In the races last year I was really strong and I actually backed out of an out-braking manoeuvre on López twice. There was the potential for me to win that race, as I was definitely quicker.”
“You have to go in with a completely fresh head and you need to tackle that circuit with a bit of respect, because you have a big crash there will be no more car left to race with!”
After a challenging weekend just days ago in the British championship at Oulton Park, Chilton will be looking to forget about his frustrations and swiftly move on to the WTCC challenge.
“I’m positive going into this weekend, but I just need to forget about the BTCC weekend.”