Chilton and Nash, the 2010 and 2011 BTCC Independent Drivers champions respectively, will step up from successful campaigns in the British Touring Car Championship, to drive newly-developed versions of Team Aon’s Ford Focus – powered by Mountune-built 1.6-litre turbocharged engines, with revised suspension components and bodywork. James Nash joins the team for their debut WTCC campaign after three seasons in the BTCC. He took a win at Rockingham last season and secured nine podiums on his way to becoming the 2011 Independent Drivers champion. Chilton secured the first-ever victories for Ford’s new Global Race Car, despite spending much of the season developing the new-style Focus. He reached the top step of the podium twice with wins at Knockhill and Silverstone, demonstrating the progress that was made with the car. The team has already been in action with Chilton and Nash driving for two days in Valencia, and will now move on to Guadix and Estoril for two further test sessions later this month. 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 at that level. It’s going to be a different season, not knowing the tracks or the competition like we did in the BTCC, but that’s part of the appeal – new challenges and new targets. “The initial time I’ve had with the new WTCC version of the car has given me a lot of optimism.” Team boss Mike Earle said: “It’s great to know that we have the two most recent BTCC Independent champions in our team; to have that kind of experience and ability holds us in good stead for our first season in the World Touring Car Championship.” The first race weekend of the WTCC starts at Monza on March 9, 10 and 11.