Nash Becomes 2011 Independent Drivers Champion
Following the final round of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, James Nash emerged as the 2011 Independent Driver Champion after fending off the battle from main rival, Mat Jackson.
Heading into the final round of the season at Silverstone, Nash held a 17-point lead over Mat Jackson in the Airwaves Racing Ford Focus but a third place, and an Independent win for Nash in the first race meant that he would wrap up the Independents Drivers Title by a 32 point margin with two races to go.
That wasn’t the end of the day for Nash and the Triple Eight Racing team as they still had to complete the Independents Team Trophy. James Nash and Ollie Jackson left it till the penultimate race of the year to win the trophy and did so by 31 points ahead of Airwaves Racing to give the team their 22nd title in British Touring Car history.
“Yeah, it’s great. We’ve worked hard all year and finished every race. That’s good for the team and it shows just how reliable they [Triple Eight Racing] make cars,” said Nash following the final race of the season. “We’ve only finished out of the points three or four times l think so we’ve been super consistent and that’s what has delivered the Championship. We got the driver’s title in the first race and we tied up the team’s title in the second.”
James Nash went on to praise the engine suppliers after the team made the switch to the turbo engine for the 2011 season.
“It’s been a fantastic season and the team and everyone from Swindon Engines have done a fantastic job. Thank you.”
Triple Eight Chairman was as equally as delighted as James Nash and the rest of the team.
“Our 22nd title, really? See we’ve won everything! James has driven really well all season,” said Ian Harrison. “He’s learnt a lot from last year. The team has done a good job. We haven’t had a mechanical failure in two years which must be a record.”
Photo Credit:
James Mappin
