Team Aon driver Tom Chilton fought back from a difficult qualifying session, to put the new Global Ford Focus Touring Car on the podium in its first ever race. The Reigate born racer finished third in the first race of the 2011 Dunlop British Touring Championship, while team mate Andy Neate came home 11th. Lining up seventh and tenth on the grid respectively, Chilton and Neate were both keen to make up positions in race one this morning, which took place under clear and sunny skies at the Brands Hatch circuit.. After a delayed race start, the season officially got underway, with both Team Aon drivers making a good getaway. As the field thundered round the first corner, Chilton was still seventh, but as the leaders completed the run up to Druids, Chilton positioned his Ford Focus perfectly to take advantage of the unfolding melee as Matt Neal spun off, to pass Matt Jackson and Andy Jordan.   The racing was put on hold due to a brief safety car period, while marshals cleared Neal’s car out of the gravel. Racing resumed on lap four, with Chilton making the most of the restart. The Team Aon man passed Alex MacDowell at Surtees at the end of lap five, to take the first podium slot in third. Team mate Andy Neate meanwhile was enduing a difficult race having qualified in a strong tenth place yesterday.  The London born racer made a small set-up change after qualifying yesterday, but returning to the track for race one, the Team Aon man immediately regretted the change and began to struggle with understeer. As the race continued, Neate’s tyre wear worsened, and by the end of the race he was unable to keep the cars behind at bay. By lap 20, Neate was 12th, but fought back to cross the line 11th.   Chilton meanwhile was still in a strong third place, and crossed the line to take the first podium position for the new Global Ford Focus.  Speaking about his race, Chilton said, “It was a really good race, it was exciting as well. We went from seventh to third, with some really good wheel-to-wheel racing. I overtook Matt Jackson into Druids, and then I gave Andrew Jordan no room at all and managed to pass him. After the restart I knew I was quicker than Alex MacDowall and overtook him around the outside, it was a bit of a risky move, but I made it stick. I’m really happy; it was a good first race for the new car.”Neate however was disappointed with his race, “We made a small change after qualifying which seemed to have a big effect. As soon as I started the race, there was a lot of understeer and I knew the tyres were going to wear quickly. Towards the end I just felt like a sitting duck, which was really frustrating as I knew we had better pace than that.”Team Principal Mike Earle was happy with a podium, but felt the team was capable of challenging for the top step, adding, “I think you always want more, I think if we’d taken our rightful position of second on the grid, we could have been up there fighting for the win. But Tom did a phenomenal job getting the car up to third.

Click here for the Tom Chilton web site - designed and built by Racecar