Daniel Lloyd: “The Alfas and Hondas are in a different class”

Craft-Bamboo SEAT driver Dan Lloyd has warned that a mid-top ten qualifying result could be the best last year’s pole-winning team can aim for this year in Thailand, after the early signs point to a very strong weekend for the Honda and Alfa Romeo teams after practice.

Lloyd finished the second session in 11th after a mistake on his best lap, but explains that even then the team are likely to struggle, with team-mate James Nash only one position further ahead in tenth.

“We had a vibration, so I spent quite a bit of time in the pits, then on my fast lap I made a mistake so I didn’t do the time I could have done,” explained Lloyd to TouringCarTimes.

“But I think we’re really going to struggle against the Alfas and the Hondas this weekend; they’re 9km/h faster than me down the straight, it’s like a different class. It’s a bit of a shame, as you then think if you can get fourth or fifth, you know that’s an amazing result, but that’s not what you really want to be aiming for.

“I think it’ll still be very close though, so I’ll just have to make sure I don’t mess up in qualifying.”