Newell, Taylor ready to go head-to-head in Goodyear FIA ETRC Chrome title battle

The Britons have fought for top Chrome honours throughout the season with Newell moving into the driving seat during a winning weekend at Le Mans last time out.

While Newell won two times in France last weekend and also claimed a second and a third, Taylor endured a more trying visit to the 24 Heures Camions, which began with a turbo failure in Free Practice 1 and also included being nudged off track by a rival in Race 2 and an enforced gearbox change following Race 3.

Although Taylor demonstrated his renowned determination, his tally of one second and two thirds means his winless run has extended to eight races.

“The title’s at stake but we just take each weekend as it comes,” said Newell. “I might be leading but it’s not job done [in the championship]. It starts again at Jarama, we just reset and go and make sure we have a good Saturday, then we should be on our way. I need to be fast. It’s a technical circuit, a very enjoyable circuit as well with lots of ups and downs where you can pick your places to overtake.”

Taylor, who became Chrome champion for the first time at Jarama last October, said: “It’s going to be a tight and fun battle to the end. We’re cat and mousing on the points. We’ve just got to keep it on track, keep our fingers crossed and we’ll have no problems, It would be good to win but I don’t think about it. It’s whatever it’s going to be. If you think about it, you’re going to put pressure on yourself and then the mistakes come. In my mind it would be nice to win again, if we don’t, we don’t, no hardship, it’s motorsport and we’ll be back next season and push again.”