Josh Cook: “I’ll take that as a bad weekend”

Josh Cook admitted he was delighted to salvage a podium finish from what looked set to be a “bad weekend” as the BTCC headed for Donington Park for the second round of the season.

Cook headed for the East Midlands circuit as championship leader after winning first time out at Brands Hatch in his new BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R.

Despite the additional weight on his car, Cook qualified on the front row of the grid but he his hopes of a strong result in race one were ended by contact with Sam Tordoff that caused a puncture and left him a lap down.

On the back foot, Cook fought back well in race two to fight into the top ten and then secured a podium finish in race three to ensure that he comes away from Donington Park just three points down on new leader Ash Sutton.

“After qualifying, we were expecting big things but then after race one, it quickly looked like it was going to become a bad weekend,” he said. “Whilst I respect the decision of the stewards to call it a racing incident, it was frustrating that it happened.

“I think Sam decided he was going for the move before knowing if it was really on and whilst I’m annoyed, I can understand his view – it happens in the BTCC when things are so close.

“However, if our bad weekends can end up like today and we can still come away with a podium then I can’t complain too much. It’s mega to have fought back in the way that we have, and to finish up with third in the final race is credit to the team for the hard work that they’ve put in again. It’s a long championship and we’re still well placed in the standings heading to Thruxton.”