Triple TCR Champion Josh Files took his first TCR international podium in the final event of the 2017 season held at the Dubai Autodrome.
 
The 26 year old Brit was called up by JAS-Honda team M1RA to act as a support role in their campaign to win the Teams Championship and Model of the Year Championship, as well as assisting their leading driver Attila Tassi in the drivers title.
 
During the free practice sessions Josh had to work through a number of setup options in a quest to find the ultimate performance of the Honda Civic TCR car that was heavily plagued by a difficult BoP as it was now the heaviest car in the field by an ever increasing 20kg.
 
Qualifying was short lived however. The car had developed a small technical problem meaning throughout Q1 Files was in the pits trying to fix the problem in an attempt to do a lap that could put him through to the Q2 pole position shoot out. After the best effort of the mechanics, the issue was incurable during the session but even so Files managed to pull out a lap good enough for P15 on both grids and missing the Q2 shootout by just 0.033s.
 
Race 1 
Files made an incredible start from 15th on the grid to end the first lap 7th. He was behind team mate Tassi in 6th with both cars moving to 5th and 6th on lap 7 ahead of the Opel of Comte. Files was in the perfect position to defend team-mate and championship contender Tassi which he valiantly did. Whilst Tassi was not able to pass his nearest rival for 4th the race ended with both cars 5th and 6th with Files having fulfilled his support role and helped secure M1RA 1st in the team championship.
 
Race 2 
For race 2 Files was clear to race as hard as possible as team mate Tassi could no longer win the drivers title. Files made another incredible start from 15th on the grid to move into P6 by turn 3 and later 5th by the end of the lap. Pushing hard for 4th throughout lap 2 and 3 he couldn’t find a way passed Belgian Denis Dupont. The leader was given a jump start penalty which promoted Files to 4th and now the battle with Dupont was on for the final podium position. In a 2 lap intense battle, Files used all of his skill and experience to finally pass the fast Belgian Dupont and pull clear in the final laps, to take 3rd place by the flag, his first TCR International series podium.
 
“That was a tough weekend. I’m very happy to have supported M1RA and Attila in their quest for the drivers and teams’ championship. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite Attilas’ moment but the team are the champions in their first season of TCR international, and I’m very happy to have helped deliver this title.” Files stated.
 
“The races were absolutely brilliant for me. I made 2 great starts, and the best of the car and the situations I had. Race 2 was a real highlight, to come from 15th on the grid after a difficult day on Friday, and fight all the way to 3rd and my first TCR International podium was an incredible feeling, I just hope I will be in the International series next year to deliver the same results, but this time fight for the championship myself.”
 
It’s been an Incredible year for Files which has seen him win the inaugural TCR Middle East Championship, take the TCR Germany championship for the second year in a row with his team Target Competition and take a 3rd place finish in the TCR Europe Trophy final race as well.
 
2018? We will have to wait and see………….