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Wednesday, 08 February 2012 09:32 |
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They say nothing in life is certain.
However, this we know...2012 will see a new star raise the BTCC Independents Driver Champion Trophy as today 2011 reigning champion, James Nash, announced he is to join Tom Chilton at Sussex-based Team AON in their assault on the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).
26 year-old Nash from Milton Keynes is very excited about making the step up to the world motor racing stage but was keen to emphasise the tough decision in moving away from Britain's premier motorsport series.
He 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.”
The deal will see Nash competing against the best touring car drivers in the world in Ford’s brand-new ‘Global’ Ford Focus that features the very latest 1.6 litre turbocharged engine from Mountune Racing. With healthy support from Ford Motorsport and very strong driver line-up Nash’s Team AON is confident that they will be competitive from the off.
James added: “Helping the team to develop the Focus is also something I’m really looking forward to. Last year with the Triple Eight team budget was tight and anyway the Vauxhall cars we used were pretty much fully developed. The Focus though is new and already in pre-season testing I’ve found a few things that enabled me and my new team-mate lap to close to qualifying record speed.”
As we wish James well on the international stage, our thoughts are already turning to who will claim the outgoing champion's crown - could this be the year of Jordan? Wrathall? Newsham? Looks like we're in for a good fight...
Worth checking - Motorsport news - F1 news
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