James Nash (Photo Credit: btcc.net)
The third place in the first of three races at Silverstone was enough for James Nash to wrap up the British Touring Car Independents drivers' championship. The Triple Eight team also secured the Independents teams' title thanks to Ollie Jackson, making his second BTCC appearance.
In the closing laps of race two Jackson was able to pass Airwaves Racings' Liam Griffin. With the rest of the Airwaves team enduring a poor weekend at Silverstone it was enough to secure the teams' title after a hard season.
“Our 22nd title, really?,” said Triple Eight chairman Ian Harrison. “See we've won everything! James has driven really well all season. He's learnt a lot from last year. The team has done a good job. We haven't had a mechanical failure in two years which must be a record. Ollie drove like a proper touring car driver, I'm really pleased considering today was only his second meeting. He's starting to get the hang of it!”
Nash's personal triumph too came at the expense of Airwaves Racing, stealing third place and the title when Mat Jackson had to call off his challenge for the overall win after a right front puncture in the latter laps of the race.
Earlier Nash had had to hold off a pack led by Tom Chilton for fourth place, the Team Aon driver having to serve a drive through penalty for straying off the circuit once too often in pursuit of the black Vectra.
Nash, speaking to The Checkered Flag after the podium celebrations, suggested that Jackson had paid the price for chasing overall glory, rather than concentrating on the more attainable Independents' honour.
“Yeah, it's great,” said Nash. “We've worked hard all year and finished every race. That's good for the team and it shows just how reliable cars they make. We've only finished out of the points three or four times l think so we've been super consistent and that's what has delivered the Championship. We got the driver's title in the first race and we tied up the team's title in the second. Nice and early. I had one more on the agenda and that was to get fourth in the driver's overall. All we needed was a point I n the last race so it was close.” It's been a fantastic season and the team and everyone from Swindon Engines have done a fantastic job. Thank you.”
Nash lost third place early on in the second race after being hit, and finished 15th and 17th in the final two races of the season. The title, fortunately, had already been clinched.
James Nash and the Triple Eight team celebrate their 2011 successes
