Read Toms’ take on his Donington Park Victory

Category: Cornwall

Take a read of Toms insight into his Donington Victory below…

Last weekend was so incredible, I couldn’t have written it. To take a first victory in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the new Team Toyota GB with Ginsters Corolla in front of 4,500 Toyota employees at Donington Park will stick long in the memory as one of the real high points in my career.

Along with the entire team at Speedworks Motorsport, we’re really starting to form a bond with this car. It’s another weekend ticked off the calendar, and with it comes another set of data, more experience and an even greater sense of comfort. The mixed conditions really helped us in that regard, we feel like we’ve now got a good base setup for the wet, and in the dry we’ve already proven we can take the fight to the other manufacturers.

We went a little bit the wrong way on setup for qualifying which put us on the back foot, but we’ve identified why and now we can move forward safe in the knowledge we’re on the right track. I think the inconsistent weather conditions hampered everybody’s planning to some extent.

On race day, our plan worked to perfection. We always knew with weight on board it was going to be an uphill struggle and the aim was always to put ourselves in the mix for the reverse-grid draw. Luckily the cards fell our way and that gave me with the opportunity to put the Ginsters Corolla into the winner’s circle for the very first time.

It’s a massive boost to everybody’s morale and it’ll only help us double our efforts to make sure we’re bringing home results like that on a regular basis. In terms of the championship, it puts us in arguably the best position – we might be seventh, but that means less ballast heading to Thruxton – the fastest circuit in the country – but within touching distance of top spot.

I’d just like to end by thanking every one for their amazing messages of support across social media since the weekend, you’ve all been amazing!

We go again in three weeks’ time at what will be another home round for us, this time our Ginsters home round!!