Tom Chilton: “It was important to get a victory”

Tom Chilton admitted that it had been “important” to get back to the top step of the BTCC podium after securing victory in the final race of the weekend at Knockhill.

The Motorbase driver picked up the first win since returning to the series at the start of last season with a lights to flag success in Scotland – a win that was also the first for the Ford team this season.

Chilton had been forced to battle through from 15th place on the grid after a tight qualifying session on Saturday, and followed up a twelfth place in race one with eighth in race two – a result that would ultimately see him earn pole for race three when Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram were excluded from the results.

From the front of the grid in race three, Chilton duly led from the front to earn his first success in the series since 2011 and he was understandably pleased at the end of the weekend.

“It was important for me to get back on the top step of the podium again, and now we have done it, I hope there will be plenty more to come,” he said. “When I qualified 15th I didn’t think I’d be celebrating a win and it just shows you can fight through if you keep nose clean.

“Okay so we were lucky to see Ash and Tom fail their checks which gave us pole for race three, but we ticked every box and are here we are because we are bloody good team with a good car.

“We’ve really nailed it this weekend and the wet set-up on the car was fantastic. I was two tenths off what I needed in the dry in qualifying but it was so close on the times. Come race day, we maximised what we had, stayed out of trouble and it means I’ve been able to celebrate a victory at a circuit that is one of my favourite on the calendar. I’m delighted.”