Josh Files: “The championship starts now”

KCMG Honda driver Josh Files took the first win for Honda in the TCR Europe Touring Car Series in Race 2 at Zandvoort, quickly launching into the lead in the Civic TCR from fourth and grid, and building a comfortable lead.

Files was up to third by Turn 1 and soon closed down race leader Jens Reno Møller’s Civic TCR for the lead, and was far away when the charging Jaap van Lagen had made it up to second in the Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS.

Files said the team made good progress throughout the weekend, with the car getting better and better with every session this year.

“I had a great start on Sunday and made it to third, but I just didn’t have the pace,” said Files to TouringCarTimes. “We were better in Race 2 but still didn’t have the ultimate race pace, but good consistency.

“I made a great start and had got second by Turn 1, and then Jens made a small mistake in Turn 6/7 and I just nipped up the inside and I just got my head down. I didn’t want to push too hard as I didn’t want to destroy the tyres.

“The championship for us starts now. We’ve worked through some set-ups and we’re getting there, so bring on Spa.”