Scorching weather did its best to cook the British Touring Car drivers at Snetterton on Sunday, but it was a blatant ramming that ruined Tom's final race that left him hot and bothered. A superb podium result in the first race was welcome consolation….

Qualifying

Tom had a very testing time in qualifying on Saturday afternoon when his gearbox developed a fault in the first few minutes of the session. He had to come into the pits to enable the team to repair it, while all the other drivers were setting their best lap times. Then to compound Tom's problems, another competitor dropped oil around the whole circuit bringing a halt to qualifying. While this gave the Honda team more time to fix the gearbox, which they did, it made the task of setting quick lap times very difficult on the cement dust covered track. Tom explains how it nearly all went wrong;

"When the session re-started I was quite tense because I didn't want to go onto the track too early while it was still really slippery, but at the same time I had to go and set a time because at that point I was last. I went out with about 10 minutes left of the session and was really careful, looking for where the oil was at its worst. Then with the gearbox working properly I came in for new tyres and just went for it. It nearly went wrong though. I ran a bit wide onto the dust at Coram and had the mother and father of all moments. I thought I was going off, but suddenly the car found a little grip, straightened up and I just stayed on."

A fortunate escape and a brave effort, which resulted in a great lap, which put Tom fourth on the grid.

Round 25

Saturday had been hot, but Sunday was even hotter, making conditions equally tough for the drivers and their cars. It also attracted a huge crowd to the Norfolk venue for the penultimate event of the season.

A fantastic start from Tom in the first race gave him a chance of taking third place at the first corner, but Matt Neal shut the door hard and Tom settled into fourth. The early laps were very close with Tom chasing the leading trio of Thompson and Muller in the Vauxhalls and Neal in the Honda. Matt found a way past Muller and Tom was also looking for a way through.

"I had a small chance going through the Esses, but Yvan held me out wide and I lost momentum. That allowed the two MGs to close on me and for the next few laps I had to watch my mirrors and defend from them. That allowed Yvan to get away a bit, but I knew we had the pace with the Honda so I just was patient. "

That patience paid off. Tom started to open up a gap to the chasing MG's and also close in on Yvan Muller. Then in a stunning move, Tom went around the outside of the reigning Champion through the Esses and held it. Now with the better inside line for the Bombhole Corner, Tom out-braked the Vauxhall and was through to 3rd. With only a handful of laps left Tom did close in on the two leaders, but couldn't catch them enough for a challenge.

" I'm happy with 3rd. To be on the podium again is great and I'm really pleased for the team because they did a great job yesterday in qualifying. They deserved a good result too. "

Round 26

The second race, in contrast, was a lot less exciting for Tom and he had to cope with the additional success ballast too. Starting 8th on the grid, Tom got away reasonably well but was held out wide at the first corner;

" Someone leaned on me through Riches corner and I got pushed to the outside. I tried to come back over on the exit, but there just wasn't any room. That let three cars come down the inside of me and with the additional weight on, I couldn't get on to them down the next straight. "

At the end of the first lap Tom was 12th. He had a fairly lonely time after that, a good move on Rob Huff's Seat saw the teenager gain a place, only to lose it again a lap later when Tom ran wide at the Esses;

" We were quite careful on the set up for this race as we knew the hot conditions and additional ballast could cause problems with the front left tyre. That reduced my grip a lot and I just understeered off the track. That let Huff back through and after that I was on my own really, no-one to catch and no-one to watch out for behind. "

Tom did benefit from the retirement of the two Halfords Hondas so at the chequered flag he crossed the line in 10th place, taking the final point.

Round 27

Tom and Team Honda had high hopes of a good result in the final race, starting 10th and with the success ballast now removed. His start was awesome, probably the best of his career, instantly rocketing Tom up to 6th. He then set about chasing Luke Hines. Lap after lap Tom was closing the gap. Then Tom made his move, out-dragging Hines down the straight and then going around the outside at the Esses. Hines then either braked too late, or didn't turn in and rammed Tom into a spin off the circuit. That effectively ruined what would have been another great race for Tom and after the race he was livid;

" That was stupid. He knew I was quicker, he was carrying ballast and he must have known that being so much lighter, I was a lot quicker than him. Basically he used me as a brake. I was fully alongside and I gave him room to stay on the inside, but he just rammed me. "

Although he managed to get going again and passed several cars to eventually finish 12th, the result should have been much better as Team boss Mike Earl commented;

" I'm very upset for Tom and the team today because he deserved more. He has done a cracking job this weekend, in practice, qualifying and the races he has driven superbly. That last race could have been another podium - the Honda is strong everywhere now and Tom had the tools to do the job. Through no fault of his we've come away with a poor result. "

A very frustrating weekend then, but Tom remains optimistic;

" We just have to look now to Donington in three weeks time, I can't wait. The Honda will be good there, I've got no success ballast and I want a result. I'll be after pole in qualifying and as for the races, well it's a good sign I think, that we are disappointed now if we don't get podiums. I want to win again though, Donington is the last chance this season, so it's maximum effort. "

The final three races take place on Sunday 26th September.

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