Dixon Looking To Take Title At Home Circuit
Following his seventh podium of the 2011 season, TCR driver James Dixon moved back up to second in the standings as the finale approaches in two weeks at his home circuit at Brands Hatch. He now sits just three points adrift of leader Aron Smith, and the title is delicately poised for an explosive conclusion.
Dixon went into Rockingham 15 points adrift of then leader Paul Rivett, but a disappointing weekend for Rivett left a four point gap between the top four drivers with Dixon making the most of his rivals misfortune.
“We’re going to Brands in the fight for the championship which has been the plan since the start of the season, we’re there and we’ll give it everything we’ve got” he said. “I’m disappointed we couldn’t win this weekend to be honest, I don’t like finishing second, but we’ve done what we needed to do by taking away some good points.”
“The biggest thing was to make sure we finished both races strongly and we did that. Everything is unbelievably tight in the championship now, it’s all to play for so I’m really looking forward to going back to Brands Hatch and doing the best we possibly can. I want that title, for me and the team.”
Qualifying didn’t quite live up to Dixon’s high standards, but kept in the mix to take a fourth on the grid for race one, and an improved third for race two.
Race one’s start saw Dixon hold station before being demoted back to sixth after the exit of the incredibly tight first hairpin. After slipping to seventh, he kept his head and benefited from the retirement of Luke Wright in front of him to move back to sixth and hold that position for the remaining laps.
Race two faired better from the off for Dixon, as he emerged from the jostling at the first hairpin still with his third place before quickly moving up the inside of Colburn to claim second. Next in line would be leader Jack Goff but Goff’s pace meant Dixon consolidated and took a strong second place amid pressure from Colburn, and a strong podium finish in the run in to the title.
As Dixon is one of five drivers who could walk out of Brands Hatch with the honours, the 2011 AirAsia Clio Cup is shaping up to be the event to watch over that weekend.
Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey
Richard Devine
