Tom Chilton has kept his slim Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title hopes alive with three points scoring finishes last weekend at Silverstone.
The Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher driver will have to be incredibly lucky in order to win the title overall. However, the unpredictable nature of the BTCC might keep it right down to the wire.
Despite having the odds against him for overall honours, he’s still in the fight for independent glory.
Starting from third on the grid for race one, Tom and Ford Focus RS team-mate Sam Tordoff were the toast of the field as they dominated towards a one-two finish. It was Tom’s sixth podium finish of the year and it finally showed people the true pace of the Focus RS package.
Credit: btcc.net
With the harder tyre for race two, it became a case of damage limitation for Chilton who dropped to thirteenth place where he’d ultimately finish.
Painstakingly one place just outside of the reverse grid draw which could have seen Tom on pole for the third race of the day for the third race weekend in a row.
Weight free, Tom worked his way into the top ten on lap one and then later on became a part of the six car battle for the lead of the race.
Despite bodywork rubbing on his right rear tyre, Tom avoided critical damage and crossed the line in sixth position for another haul of points.
Following this weekend, Tom may still be in the hunt for the main drivers championship. However, he’s going to need a miracle if he’s to pull it off.
But, the independent championship is still within reach as he’s only twenty points from Tom Ingram in first.
Looking back, Tom said,
“I’m really happy with how this weekend has gone. We’ve scored a lot of points and moved up to third in the championship, which is great.
“We’ve been quick all weekend, right through from free practice to qualifying in P3 carrying 33kg is nothing to be sniffed at around here.
“Race 1 was a fantastic result for Motorbase. I managed to finish 2nd behind my team-mate Sam [Tordoff] and was really happy to be on the podium spraying champagne together. Race 2 was the double-whammy with the hard tyre and weight so it was always going to be painful so it was a good result.
“I got a blinding start in race 3 and overtook from the word go. We were challenging for another podium, unfortunately, Cook tapped me and damaged my rear right which dropped us back and I lost quite a bit of time because I couldn’t see from the smoke.
“I had a great scrap at the end but sadly lost a place on the closing lap. I have to be happy with the weekend overall though, leaving Silverstone third overall and 2nd in the Independents.”
