James Nash heads to Curitiba in Brazil for the eighth round of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship and the Milton Keynes racer is looking forward to racing in South America.
In the seven week break between the Portimao races and the Curitiba weekend, Nash has been an ambassador for the WTCC ahead of the series maiden visit to the USA in September, at the Sonoma Raceway.
“The highlight for me most certainly was a trip I made last month to California as an Ambassador for the WTCC,” explained Nash. “We race there in September and myself, Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Montiero were very privileged to be invited by the race hosts to see a NASCAR meeting and be guests of honour at a dinner.”
Away from the track, Nash has had chance to recharge the batteries after a frantic opening seven weekends of the season, and the last weekend in Portugal didn’t go according to plan either for the #14 Team Aon Ford Focus driver.
“I’ve enjoyed the break to be honest. The last race we did in Portugal wasn’t the happiest for one reason or another and so the opportunity to take time out and recharge batteries has been very welcome,” added the 2011 British Touring Car Championship Independents’ Champion.
“It’s a good thing I feel recharged because the WTCC from now on is full-on through to the end of November. Between now and then we travel to Brazil of course, then we’re off to California, to Japan and China and finally to Macau. I haven’t worked out the air miles yet but as a keen traveller I can’t wait!”
The seven week break has seen Nash completing a number of PR and Sponsorship events, he can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of his Ford Focus race car and see what progress has been made since Portimao.
“I can’t wait to get back into competition. While I’ve been really busy with PR and Sponsor work, and a lot of simulator work there is no substitute for getting behind the wheel of a racing car in competition. Since the last event in Portugal the team have been busy testing some developments for the Ford Focus, so I can’t wait get on track again and see what steps forward we’ve made,” concluded the 26 year old.
“My race car was actually shipped out to Brazil a few weeks ago though I’m very hopeful that some new bits we tried on a test car will work well when we bolt them on.”