A ‘relaxed’ James Nash says that he is glad to see that the Volkswagen Golf TCR cars have been given the maximum success ballast for this weekend’s TCR International Series races in Malaysia.
Although Nash remains on top in the drivers’ championship standings, the Brit had no answer to the pace of the Leopard Volkswagens of Jean-Karl Vernay and Stefano Comini in the first race in Singapore.
Despite struggling to match their speed on the streets of Singapore, however, he has moved to the top of the points table by out-scoring Craft-Bamboo Racing team-mate Pepe Oriola in the previous round.
And although Oriola will also run ballast-free this weekend, Nash is more glad that the pace-setting Volkswagen Golf cars will be hit with the extra weight.
But with the VWs running at a lower base weight due to the Balance of Performance [BoP] regulations, even Comini, who has 20 kg of success ballast and will run at 1,305 kg, will be lighter than Nash’s SEAT, which is to run at 1,315 kg in Sepang.
“The fact that the extra ‘success’ ballast has come off my SEAT León is obviously welcome,” said Nash. “My team-mate Pepe Oriola will be weighted the same as me but, thanks to the ‘balance of performance’ regulations even with success ballast added to Stefano Comini’s Volkswagen after his second-highest points score in Singapore, he will still be 10 kilos lighter than both of us and as we’ve already seen this season the VW is quick along the straights of which there are plenty at Sepang.”
“With these two as my main rivals, arguably two of the best drivers in touring car racing at the present time I’m clearly going to have my work cut out just to try to get ahead.
“I expect others to show too, in particular the Hondas, as they’ve been quick everywhere we’ve been.
“Sepang is another circuit that will be new to me and we’ve only got a short practice on Thursday to familiarise ourselves with the layout ahead of qualifying first thing on Friday morning. Good race finishes as always will be the primary aim. Hopefully, we’ll get a couple.”
Nash has taken the opportunity between the geographically close Singapore and Malaysia events to take a short break in South-East Asia.
“I’ve remained in the Far East instead of taking extra flights to and from Europe, so I’ve been able to use the time since we raced in Singapore as an opportunity to get a week in in Bali relaxing on the beach.
“I wasn’t able to take a holiday during the TCR series break in July and August and so this past week has been a very welcome change of pace.
“So it’s a tough event ahead but, I love a challenge and with batteries recharged and no jet lag to contend with it’s one I’m ready for.”