A best finish of 6th place in the first race was the highlight for Tom Chilton in a disappointing trip across to Ireland…

Tom struggled all weekend with handling problems that affected the whole VXR Racing team at Mondello Park. After running so strongly in the opening event at Brands Hatch two weeks ago, it was unexpected and frustrating to be so far off the pace. Tom managed a 6th place in the first race, was knocked off at the first corner in race 2 and finished 9th in the final race after starting at the back of the field.

“ We certainly didn’t think we would all be fighting over midfield places this weekend. We’ve had a problem getting the right set-up on the Astra and to be honest, it was really frustrating that all the changes we tried didn’t make any big improvements.”

Having qualified 7th, Tom made an excellent start in race 1 and was up to 5th at the end of the first lap. That didn’t last long as Gordon Shedden got past on the second lap and then with his two Vauxhall team mates behind him, Tom had a relatively uneventful race, finishing top Astra driver, but only in 6th place.

The second race was a disaster for Tom as he was launched into the gravel at the first corner.

“ I couldn’t believe it. I made a good start then Shedden braked too late down the inside, rammed into James Thompson and bounced off into me. The impact broke the steering arm on my car, so even if I had not been stuck in the gravel, I couldn’t have carried on. Very annoying. “

Having to start at the back for the final race and still not having got a good set-up, Tom and his engineer took a bit of a gamble for the final race, but it didn’t work;

“ I had nothing to lose so we tried something more radical with the cars set-up. It didn’t help and I was struggling all race. “

Tom eventually finished 9th, very disappointed but remaining positive;

“ Hopefully this is the low point of the season. We’ve got work to do and I’m confident that the team will come up with a solution to the problems we’ve all had this weekend. It has been one of those events you just want to forget about, but we can’t forget it. We have got to analyse all the issues that affected us and come up with answers ready to be back on the pace, with a car capable of winning races. There is three weeks before the next event at Oulton Park so hopefully that is enough time to sort this out.“