Tom Chilton: Difference between revisions
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In 2009 he appeared with [[Anthony Reid]] in a music video for singer-songwriter [[Andy J Gallagher]].[http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2009/06/04/moonlighting-telly-crew/] |
In 2009 he appeared with [[Anthony Reid]] in a music video for singer-songwriter [[Andy J Gallagher]].[http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2009/06/04/moonlighting-telly-crew/] |
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Tom appeared on ITV's 'Take Me Out' on 23rd January 2010 |
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Revision as of 20:09, 23 January 2010
| Tom Chilton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality |  British |
| British Touring Car Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2002 |
| Current team | Team Aon |
| Car number | 10 |
| Former teams | Team Dynamics VX Racing Honda Barwell Motorsport |
| Starts | 199 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Poles | 4 |
| Fastest laps | 7 |
| Best finish | 5th in 2005 |
| Previous series | |
| 2005, 07 2005, 07 2000-01 | American Le Mans Series Le Mans Series T Cars |
Tom Chilton (born 15 March 1985 in Reigate) is a British auto racing driver educated at Reigate St. Mary's School and Shiplake College. A keen racer from an early age, he competed in the BRSCC T-Cars Championship in 1999 and 2000, going on to take the BRSCC Saloon Car winter championship in 2001. Tom has just completed his seventh year in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and finishing his last race of 2008 with a win. His younger brother, Max Chilton, is also a racing driver.
BTCC career
Turning his attention to the BTCC, he was team mate to ex-Superbike racer Aaron Slight in 2002 driving a Vauxhall Astra Coupé for Barwell Motorsport. He proved to be very quick, and although his lack of experience counted against him he nevertheless finished the season in 15th place overall and 5th in the Independents' Cup.
In 2003 he moved to Honda Racing and finished in 9th place driving a works Honda Civic Type-R ran by Arena Motorsport alongside Matt Neal and Alan Morrison. With Honda withdrawing manufacturer support for 2004, Arena only had the budget to run a single car for Chilton. However, the car was still well-prepared and he came through to take his first victory during the 9th race of the season, at Silverstone, in the process becoming the youngest winner of a BTCC race. He won again in the 29th race at Donington.
His plans for 2005 centered around the DTM with a new programme backed by MG Rover, but this fell through with the demise of the British marque. He and Arena rejoined the BTCC at the second meeting of the season and combined his touring car duties with racing for Zytek in the ALMS and LMS endurance series. Tom won in both ALMS and LMS racing. He was classified 5th in the 2005 British Touring Car Championship season despite only starting 24 of the 30 races. Chilton's involvement with Zytek continued, subject to funding and availability; Tom and his brother Max drove the car at the Silverstone 1000 km in September 2007.
Vauxhall signed him for 2006 to drive the #5 Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch. In a struggling season for Vauxhall, Tom never won a race and slipped to 7th overall. Vauxhall retained Chilton and Fabrizio Giovanardi for 2007, but Tom did not want to stay at VX Racing in 2008.
He left to partner Gordon Shedden at Team Dynamics for the 2008 BTCC season. In the final round of the championship, Chilton won his first race since round 25 of the 2005 season with a dominant victory at Brands Hatch. This also ensured his tenth place in the championship.
For 2009 Chilton has returned to Arena Motorsport to drive a Ford Focus ST in the BTCC.
TV appearances
He is one of many racing drivers rumoured to be The Stig on BBC2 show Top Gear, after the previous Stig revealed his identity.
He has appeared in five series of Top Gear. In Series 5, Episode 5, he was one of the drivers in the People Carrier Race. He then again appeared in the first episode of series 6 as one of the drivers in the Toyota Aygo football match. More recently he has appeared in Series 10 episode 6 when he raced a Chevrolet motorhome with other touring car drivers as well as James May & Richard Hammond. In Series 12 episode 5 he raced (and then rolled over) a double decker bus, and had earlier on in the episode raced against Jeremy Clarkson whilst driving a BMW M3. On 6 December 2009, he appeared in a further episode of Top Gear, racing against other touring car drivers in airport vehicles.
In 2009 he appeared with Anthony Reid in a music video for singer-songwriter Andy J Gallagher.[1]
Tom appeared on ITV's 'Take Me Out' on 23rd January 2010