Team AON signed Chilton and Nash

Team Aon will enter the 2012 WTCC with two Global Ford Focus race cars powered by Mountune built 1.6 litre turbo engines and driven by Tom Chilton and James Nash.

Nash joins the team after three seasons in the British Touring Car Championship; he took an impressive win at Rockingham last season on his way to clinch the Independent title.

Chilton, the 2010 BTCC Independent champion, secured the first ever victories for Ford’s new Global race car last year at Knockhill and Silverstone.

After spending most of the winter developing and building the WTCC Focus, team boss Mike Earle commented: “It’s great to have the two most recent BTCC Independent champions; that kind of experience and ability holds us in good stead for our first season in the World Touring Car Championship.
We’ve spent a great deal of time and effort in designing and building this car for the upcoming season and can’t wait for it to start.”

The team tested with Chilton and Nash for two days in Valencia last week; they will now move on to Guadix and Estoril for two further test sessions.

Chilton said: “I’m incredibly excited about the WTCC. It’s a new challenge for me and the team, but I know we’ve got the experience and the tools to do a good job. It’s going to be a different season, not knowing the tracks or the competition, but that’s part of the appeal. The initial time I’ve had with the WTCC car has given me a lot of optimism. I’m confident we can take the fight to the established teams even in our first year.”

And Nash echoed: “I’m really excited and pleased to be moving on to the next step of touring cars. I’ve had a great time in the BTCC, however everyone has aspirations and this was ultimately the next step in my career. I believe that I’m in the best position to have a successful season with Team Aon.”