RONAN Pearson admitted words could not describe the joy he felt after securing a first-ever British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race win at Brands Hatch.
Pearson, driving for Droitwich-based Team Bristol Street Motors, stormed to victory in the third and final race of the weekend while teammate Tom Chilton finished second in a stunning end to the second round of the new season.
And Pearson put a difficult start to the weekend behind him to claim a dream maiden victory in the prestigious BTCC.
Pearson said: “No words. It shouldn’t feel surreal, we’ve had the pace to be there on merit. Obviously our day started off horrendously and it just shows we never give up as your day can turn around so quickly in the BTCC. I’ve seen that and I’ve had to remember that and it just shows what we can do.
“I can’t wait to watch that back as every noise and vibration was starting to make my heart rate go up and I thought ‘no, there is nothing wrong and we are going to be OK’. The start wasn’t good. It seemed equal compared to everyone else but Aron was off like a stabbed rat as David (Addison) would say. There was half a car width and that was mine.
“It really is lovely, for years I have watched this and dreamt of this. How hard it has been to get here, few people know. I’ll have to stop there before I get too emotional.”
The Scotsman made a stellar move for victory early in the race after a slow start from pole position as he expertly fired his Hyundai down the inside of Aron Taylor-Smith at the end of the first lap.
And teammate Chilton made a huge lunge to overtake Taylor-Smith down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend late on as both cars ran slightly wide but the former took the place.
Fellow Team Bristol Street Motors driver Tom Ingram suffered a puncture and came home in 18th place after securing a podium finish in race two as he crossed the line second after a seventh place finish in race one.
Chilton’s podium in race three rounded off an excellent weekend for the Team Bristol Street Motors driver after he finished sixth in each of the first two races.
And Pearson placed 19th and 11th before roaring to a remarkable victory in the third and final race.
The team’s other driver, Nick Halstead, finished 17th in races one and three either side of a 13th place finish in race two.
Team Bristol Street Motors return to the track at Snetterton on May 25 and 26.
