Photo: WTCC Media

James Nash holds Yokohama Trophy lead with career best result

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Bamboo-engineering’s James Nash maintains the lead in the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy after Marrakech, taking his first career podium in the Chevrolet Cruze in race one.

Starting from both his and bamboo-engineering’s best position on the grid, Nash was caught out my a flying Michel Nykjaer who squeezed past on the outside into the first turn. The two Chevrolets chased Tarquini for the lead, with Nykjaer able to pass just before the safety car came out.

“It was my first rolling start in the Chevrolet, and to be on the front row of the grid it was a bit daunting, and I didn’t quite maximise that which was disappointing,” said Nash to TouringCarTimes.

After the safety car, Nash was now forced to switch from attack to defence, with three-time champion Yvan Muller in the RML Chevrolet right on his tail, but the 27-year-old was able to hold his position and claim his first podium finish.

“He wasn’t going to come past me on that lap! If there was another lap I might have struggled,” he added.

In the second race Nash made a lightning start, crossing the track and blocking Gabriele Tarquini’s Honda and then moving up the order to eventually finish fourth, including a mid-race tussle with Münnich Motorsport’s Marc Basseng.

Fourth place was also good enough for the Yokohama Trophy class win, which sees Nash maintain his lead over Nika Racing’s Michel Nykjaer and Nash’s team-mate Alex MacDowall in the standings.

“(In race two I had) a good start and pushed my way through. Tom (Chilton) didn’t help me and pushed me a bit wide, it could be classed as racing but I thought it was a bit harsh,” said Nash.

“I’m pleased, we picked up some good points and it’s a big improvement from the last round and I’ve still got a lot to learn.”

The contact between Nash and Tom Chilton was investigated by the stewards but no action was taken.

Nash leads the Yokohama Trophy standings with 35 points, six ahead of Michel Nykjaer and 15 ahead of Alex MacDowall. Nash also moves up to fifth place in the overall drivers’ standings, and is now just five points behind his former team-mate Tom Chilton.