It was confirmed today that the Dunlop MSA Independent Drivers Championship winner of 2011, James Nash, will leave the series and switch to the FIA World Touring Car Championship for the 2012 campaign.

The 26-year old from Milton Keynes, who took his maiden victory at Rockingham last season, has secured a deal which will see him drive for the former-BTCC outfit, Team Aon, who will be also making their debut in the series with Ford’s brand-new ‘Global’ Ford Focus that features the very latest 1.6 litre turbocharged engine from Mountune Racing and join former BTCC star Tom Chilton.

“Taking the step up into the WTCC is a great challenge and very exciting,” said James speaking about the move. “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.”

Nash made his debut in the BTCC back in 2009 when he took to the wheel of the Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti partnering the two-time champion Jason Plato. Nash then moved to Triple-Eight Racing where he would stay for two years helping them to the Independents Team Championship title in 2011.

The Milton Keynes based racer went on to say, “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.”

Photo Credit: Pete Mainey

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.