After driver James Nash and Tony Gilham struggled in qualifying – lining up only 10th and 12th – Triple Eight Race Engineering deemed their haul of five podium places from the BTCC Thruxton weekend “a fair reward”.
Nash, who began the weekend leading the championship and the ballast to match, could only score minor points in the first two races, before being given an opportunity to improve his fortunes by the reverse grid for the final race of the day.
Starting from fourth Nash remained just off the podium slots, frustrated by Tom Boardman in front holding back at a restart after an early safety car period.
Gilham, meanwhile endured a similar weekend, missing the points in the weekend's first race before picking up a tenth, then a ninth place to end the third meeting of the championship.
“A reasonable end to a weekend that didn't look too promising after a disappointing qualifying,” summarised Gilham. “We've got to be happy I suppose moving up in each race and scoring some more points. We've just got to get a grip on qualifying starting next time out at Oulton Park.”
“The feeling after the races is a bit flat really,” said Triple Eight chairman Ian Harrison. “We came here carrying high expectations but you have to remember that neither James nor Tony had raced here before in a touring car and initially we went a bit too conservative on set up, certainly more mild a set up than we normally would have used for Thruxton.”
“Both drivers drove well, especially after we went a little more aggressive in races two and three. We scored 5 out of 6 points finishes so it can't be the end of the world and it is I guess better than some of the other teams managed.”
