Dan Cammish said he had a ‘cracking day’ in the British Touring Car Championship season opener at Donington Park, where the Honda driver won the opening race of the season and left the circuit second overall in the drivers’ standings.
Having almost been stifled by a technical issue in qualifying, Cammish put his Honda Civic on the front row of the grid for the opening race, alongside reigning champion Colin Turkington.
In the first race, Cammish lost out to the rear-wheel drive Infiniti of Ash Sutton, following the leading duo for the first couple of laps.
But opportunity knocked on lap four when Sutton and Turkington came together, allowing Cammish into the lead in one clean, swift move.
Cammish then held on to the lead for the rest of the race, despite a late safety car intervention.
“Race one was brilliant, to start on a high with a win,” said Cammish. “I always knew Ash would be aggressive with Colin and when he opened up the gap, I think he forgot about me, and I took the opportunity.”
Race two then saw Cammish claim sixth with the full 60 kg of success ballast on board, the Yorkshire man having slipped back during the race with the extra weight to contend with.
From seventh on the grid in race three, Cammish ultimately couldn’t improve his position but his points haul means he is just six points from the top of the table after the opening event.
Combined with team-mate Matt Neal’s points, Honda also leaves Donington Park at the top of the manufacturers’ table, albeit tied with BMW.
“Our front-wheel-drive rivals are very competitive, but it’s been a cracking day. I’m second in the points with 40 more than I started with last year.
“It will be tough going back to Brands; I’ll have a lump in my throat the first time I go through the corner where my title ambitions went last season.
“But I like the track and the car goes well there – it will be head down and get some more points in the bag.”