WTCC SPA

Slip Streaming Pays Off

If I am honest I would say I was surprised to be starting the Spa race from the front row of the grid, but luck often plays a part in motor racing and I had some of it today. Spa is a track where slip streaming can make the difference between a good and bad grid position, today I was able to get an important tow and the results speak for themselves.

Up to qualifying I had not been the most optimistic driver. I felt Jörg Müller was likely to have the quickest BMW 320i as he has a new chassis and engine, following his accident in Mexico, and only ten kilos of ballast compared to Dirk Müller and myself who are both on 40 kilos. When he said he had posted his third placed time with no help from slipstreaming I was not surprised.

Where my luck came in was getting a tow as I could not rely on a team-mate. I timed it nicely, was happy with the new tyre balance and no one came out of the pits or baulked me to ruin the lap. Sadly that is only a quarter of the job done as the races are gong to be very tough.

We are not going to stand still overnight. We are going to work hard to improve the balance of my car. I had the puncture at Silverstone so didn’t win my home race there. This is my second home event as RBM is a Belgian team and I can think of nothing better than giving Bart and the boys a win here.