Nash happy with top independent qualifying

James Nash was happy with ‘best of the rest’, after Honda took charge in qualifying, with Neal and Shedden locking out the front row.

James Nash set a lap of 1:10.477 to secure third on the grid for Triple Eight Race Engineering, with Nash’s Vauxhall rival Andrew Jordan’s Eurotech Racing car alongside in fourth.

“I think there was probably another tenth in it (the car), but the Hondas are too quick for us at the minute,” said Nash to TouringCarTimes.

“First Vauxhall over the line though, so I’m really pleased. We’re carrying 27kg more than Andrew Jordan, so I think we’ve done well to be there.”

James Nash was involved in the incident which brought out the third red flag in qualifying, after Nash and Speedworks’ driver Tony Hughes made contact, which left the Toyota stranded in the gravel trap.

“I was coming up behind him, flashing my lights, and he left the door slightly open. I thought he’d seen me, went up the hill and he just kept coming across and hit us,” said Nash.

The 25-year-old from Milton Keynes was able to rejoin after the session resumed and set his best lap to reclaim third from Jordan in the final minutes of qualifying.

“The tracking was slightly out, but it wasn’t anything major thankfully, so a new set of tyres and off we went.”

Nash’s objective for race day is to follow the Hondas, and try to finish as the top independent on Sunday.

“They say they (Honda) can’t make it to the end of the race, but they said that at Brands Hatch and they still won.”

“We just want to break away from the pack and at least get a couple of podiums.”