Josh Files: “I couldn’t have gone any faster”

Josh Files has declared his pole position the best lap that was possible to extract from his Target Competition Hyundai i30 N TCR, as he outqualifying Gilles Magnus’ much fancied Audi at the Hockenheim circuit, a historically Audi-suited circuit.

Files put down a marker of 1:47.095 on his first run in Q1, with his Belgian rival just 0.010 seconds behind, with Magnus then coming close on his second lap before he went wide at Turn 13.

The two-time TCR Germany champion therefore secured pole and the five points that go with it, to move him up to second in the standings.

“I didn’t think it would be a ‘just pole position’, as opposed to a ‘just fighting for tenth’, so I’m surprised and ecstatic,” said Files to TouringCarTimes.

“I put all my experience of this track and into that lap, and I could not have gone faster, so I’m happy the others didn’t pull it out of the bag.

“Starting from the front you feel quite fortunate; we just have to get a good start now and fight from the front really and try and keep the Audis behind in the middle sector.

“We might struggle with the brakes because of the extra weight we’ve got, but I’m up for the fight.”