James Nash enjoys hairy race one

James Nash took Independents victory in race one at Oulton Park with a storming drive through the pack to fourth overall. Despite ninth on the grid after struggling in practice, Nash came through the pack in damp conditions thanks to his pre-race tyre choice.

“It was a really good race,” said Nash to TouringCarTimes. “A bit hairy to start with as we had slicks on the front and wets on the rear, so struggling a bit to start with. But the middle section of the race it all came into its own, and then obviously for the last few laps the rears were getting really hot and we were sliding all over the place.

“We lost out to a couple of people at the start but it’s just keeping your head and knowing you’ll come into play towards the end.”

With the track progressively drying, Nash was catching the leading quartet, passing Rob Collard on the penultimate lap for the Indepent’s win. Fourth overall moves Nash back into second in the overall standings.

“A safety car about lap seven or eight would have been absolutely ideal, but it doesn’t always work that way. You have to play the cards you’ve been given.”

Heading in to race two, with conditions at the Cheshire circuit still mixed, Nash is hoping for either dry or wet, but not another race with both weather elements.

“I’m confident as always, but it’s a bit of a lottery with the weather, and it’s started to rain again. I don’t really mind which, but I’d rather it did something!”

The inclement weather conditions have also meant that Nash and Triple Eight aren’t sure that they have corrected the problems that blighted the Vauxhall Vectra on Saturday.

“We struggled with understeer on the apex to exit, maybe a driver thing, maybe a bit of a car issue too. It was a combination that we needed to sort out. We hadn’t tested since Thruxton, and it was just a bit difficult.

“We’ve made a few changes, but it’s been damp ever since, so we don’t know whether it’s worked or not!”

Nash starts Round 11 of the BTCC from fourth on the grid, but crucially three places ahead of Matt Neal, who currently heads him in the Championship standings.