Darelle Wilson was upbeat after qualifying for the TCR UK series at Croft, which saw the Vauxhall Astra racer secure a front row starting position for the reverse-grid second race.
Wilson’s day had been stymied by a lack of track time after the Birmingham-based racer damaged his front splitter in the first warm-up session. Whilst the team attempted to fix the broken part, a replacement was ultimately required, which arrived just after qualifying.
Despite being the slowest driver in the eight-car field in qualifying, the unique way in which TCR UK forms the reverse grid for race two, reversing the top ten drivers second-fastest times means that Wilson will start from second for that race.
“It was not too bad actually,” said Wilson to TouringCars.Net. “When it was damp conditions and everybody else was on wets, we had slicks on the front and the car was quick and I was P3 for a while.
“I stayed out on those tyres, and everybody else came in for slicks all around whilst I stayed out on wets on the rear, and so everybody went quicker than me.
“I know that the car has got the pace on the same tyres in the same conditions so I’m happy with that.
“I haven’t been out on this track with slicks all around, so I’m yet to feel what the full potential is of the car but starting from second tomorrow should be good.”
Wilson, who has a lack of experience at Croft, is hoping he can replicate the form he displayed earlier in the year when he just missed out on a podium in the second event of the season in Scotland.
“I had a fourth at Knockhill, a track which I didn’t know, so the potential is in the car. It’s just about me learning the car. The money is limited so I haven’t had any testing and yesterday not going out in the car didn’t help either.”