Tom Chilton hopes to fare well in the rain from second

Tom Chilton starts from his career best position in this afternoon’s opening round of the WTCC at Monza in what is guaranteed to be a wet race – and the 28-year-old is hoping his experience in the wet will bode well for him.

Driving for the RML Chevrolet team, Chilton grabbed P2 in qualifying and will start second on the grid for the first race and provisionally eighth for race two this afternoon, whilst the rain continues to lash down at Monza.

Chilton’s pace improved throughout the dry running on Saturday, moving forward in every session on his first weekend with RML.

“I was fourth in free practice 1, I was third in free practice 2 and I was second in qualifying. I just wanted to gradually ease myself into it,” said Chilton to TouringCarTimes.

Chilton admits he expected the Chevrolet would be strong, but there was a concern that Honda will be more competitive than expected this weekend after the results of last week’s testing.

“All winter when I knew this was happening I thought it would be me and Yvan 1-2, but I started looking at Gabriele’s lap-time last week here, and he did the same time as I did in the morning with no slipstream at all, mine was done with a tow, so I thought he might have something in the bag for qualifying, but obviously he didn’t get the right tow.”

“We’ve been very fortunate that myself, Yvan and RML have found sponsors that can help us run the whole year but it won’t be at the level where we can spend any money on development. Whereas the Honda will be permanently developing, and so will the Lada.”

Looking ahead to the prospect of two wet races at Monza, Chilton added:
“I think the car is very good in the wet. I drove around Brands Hatch Indy (two weeks ago), which I know like the back of my hand – I actually drove the Ford last year there in the rain and it was the first time I drove on the Yokohama wet tyre. The next year I went to the same circuit, the same conditions but now with the Chevrolet and I was a couple of seconds a lap faster.

“The thing with Monza is you’re arriving at corners on the limiter in sixth gear going a lot faster than in your short gear ratios at Brands Hatch…it’s just those first couple of laps in wet conditions you’re looking in your mirrors more than where you’re going to see if someone else has locked up and is going to hit you.”