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James Nash: “It’s nice to be back fighting at the front”

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Craft-Bamboo Racing driver James Nash is happy after qualifying fifth for the first race today at the Salzburgring, with all three of the team’s SEATs on the pace throughout the weekend, with Pepe Oriola just two spots ahead in second.

The team have been quick throughout the weekend, with both Oriola and new signing Dan Lloyd fastest in Friday’s test session, with the UK-Hong Kong-based team working together in qualifying to put their cars near the front.

“We didn’t maximise the car in Q1 or Q2 due to traffic, but it’s a reasonable place,” said Nash to TouringCarTimes.

“It’s quite nice for our team to be fighting for the top end of the grid spots again. We feel like we’re back to where we should be and it’s a positive step so far. Our base car is very good. Sector two is very hard, but sector three is very strong for us.”

Nash, like most drivers, encountered traffic on his qualifying runs, but was pragmatic about the issue in the short qualifying session.

“It was just pot luck if there was going to be a guy in front of you who was going to be on a slowdown lap the next time,” said Nash.