Despite the disappointment, George's new driver coach John Pratt a man who has worked with WTCC title winner Andy Priaulx in recent years said he was happy with how the Independent racer was performing on track so far this season as he looks to build on a solid finish to the 2007 campaign.
"John has made considerable progress in the first two race meetings of 2008, so we're all very optimistic about the rest of the season," he said. "As John gets closer and closer to the time, we have to analyse in more detail what we can improve. We look at braking, turning, mid-corner and exit and scrutinise every aspect of his performance. We analyse every single corner and try to identify the one thing in each corner about John's driving we can change for the better.
"Our focus is on how we are performing relative to our immediate competitors; like Collard, Hughes and Vaulkhard. There are really three races going on out there: at the front there are the manufacturers' teams, and at the back there are the Independents. In the middle, which is where we are at the moment, are the more 'serious' Independent drivers. I'd expect to see John at the top of that pile by the end of this year's championship."
