Welcome to BTCCPages.com!

Search BTCCPages.com

BTCC 2013 Index

Chilton and Nash head to WTCC with Team Aon

BTCC News | Wed 8th February 2012

Tom Chilton and James Nash will drive for Team Aon in the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship.

Tweet

By Matt Lamprell

Nash and Chilton, who have won the BTCC Independent Drivers Championship in the past two season, will drive a pair of the team’s Arena Motorsport 'global' Ford Focus models in the WTCC.

Chilton claimed the first race win for the new-style Focus in the BTCC at Knockhill in 2011, while Nash claimed a win at Rockingham on his way to the Indpendents’ title.

Tom Chilton said: "I'm incredibly excited about the WTCC. It’s a new challenge for me and the team, but I know we've got the experience and the tools to do a good job at that level. It’s going to be a different season, not knowing the tracks or the competition like we did in the BTCC, but that’s part of the appeal – new challenges and new targets.

"The initial time I've had with the new WTCC version of the car has given me a lot of optimism. The team has a tremendous amount of experience with the older versions of the car and it has just been a logical development with a lot of the new parts. I’m confident we can take the fight to the established teams even in our first year."

James Nash said: "Taking the step up into the WTCC is a great challenge and very exciting. The whole Team Aon and Ford package is fantastic. With Ford’s support and Team AON’s detailed knowledge of the car I'm hugely looking forward to what I hope will be another rewarding season." "Of course, as a reigning British Champion it has been a difficult decision to move away from the National series. I had offers to stay but quite honestly the lure of world competition was too strong to resist." "I can't wait to go wheel to wheel with people like 3-time World Champion Yvan Muller, Rob Huff, Alain Menu and Gabriele Tarquinii. I’ve grown up watching them race and I’m itching to get behind the wheel and make my own mark too."

Team boss Mike Earle commented, "It's great to know that we have the two most recent BTCC Independent champions in our team; to have that kind of experience and ability holds us in good stead for our first season in the World Touring Car Championship. We've spent a great deal of time and effort in designing and building this car for the upcoming season and can’t wait for it to start."

Post your comments below OR Click here to discuss in our forum