BTCC

James Cole’s top ten hopes dashed by contact

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James Cole BTCC
Credit: btcc.net

In a car mooted to be suited to the high pace of Silverstone. James Cole was hopeful of scoring valuable points in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship last Sunday.

However, whilst his team-mates enjoyed the spoils that come with the championship’s podium. James was to be left disappointed following various instances of contact taking him out of point scoring positions.

Having not scored points since Oulton Park, James was trying to make a return to these points and possibly highlight to teams why he deserves a drive in 2019.

A close qualifying saw the thirty year old line up seventeenth just a couple of places outside of the points scoring positions. An opportunity to move forward was to be the plan.

The first race was going well until contact with the Subaru Levorg of former team-mate Ashley Sutton dropped him down the order. Twenty-first was where the disappointed Cole was to eventually recover. The top ten was a succinct possibility.

Race two was to follow a similar script. Working his way through the field, James was hit on lap seven which once again dropped him down the field. This time twenty-eighth was where the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher Ford Focus RS finished.

Whilst progress was made again in the final race, James was to stall at twentieth where he’d eventually finish.

With one weekend left to go in this championship and pace shown before the bad luck. James will be hoping to go out with a bang at Brands Hatch.

“A tough weekend that sadly didn’t go to plan.

“We didn’t maximise the capability of the car in qualifying and even though it was such small margins, unfortunately around here that means a lot of positions. We gained 5 places at the start of race 1 and were looking good for a top 10 finish before being taken out.

“That put me to the back for race 2 on the hard tyre which was the wrong tyre to have to try to come through the pack. I got taken out again as a result of someone else’s accident in race two and managed to fight back in the final race but it was too little too late to make a difference.

“If I’d have finished in the top ten in race 1 then it could have been a completely different story.

“I have to congratulate my team-mates Tom and Sam on a great weekend, and fantastic set of results for the team. Hopefully, we can get all three cars up there together at Brands Hatch.”

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About author
A BTCC fan turned writer with two degrees in Journalism and Media from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of motorsport, Stuart is an admirer of the London Underground and is often found listening to music. Covers the British Touring Car Championship and Renault UK Clio Cup.
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