Aron Smith philosophical after Thruxton raceday woes

A philosophical Aron Smith conceded that it just wasn’t his day at Thruxton on Sunday, after losing a podium to a huge blowout at the start of the day and enduring a “terrifying” second race trying to steer a damaged car home.

Smith took his maiden BTCC pole on Saturday, but dropped behind the Honda Racing Team pair of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal at the start of race one. He followed Neal closely before his tyre blew, and was then compromised further in the second race after contact from Neal left the rear of his car heavily damaged.

He salvaged eighth from the third race, and said he was looking forward to a break to “de-stress” before returning to action at Oulton Park.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes, Smith said: “Some days just aren’t your day. We probably had two podiums robbed from us – one from a puncture and one from contact from Matt [Neal]. But it happens.

“Race three I fought as hard as I could, but I just couldn’t make up any more ground. I leave here happy that I’ve found something in qualifying trim and got my first pole, but disappointed with the outcome.

“I certainly had the legs on Matt in race one but I’m not sure about Gordon [Shedden], he was a good way down the road. We would have had P2 I reckon.

“Then just out of nowhere it exploded – bang, and off we went. It was a monumental save, which was probably the highlight of today for me! It’s the only thing I’ll watch back…”

Neal was reprimanded by the stewards for the second race contact at the complex, which left Smith with a hard job to bring the car home 11th.

Smith said: “The contact bent the rear in 19mm. To put it into perspective – 1mm is a big change. It’s a near write-off on that right rear.

“I had no chance. It wouldn’t drive in a straight line any more and around here it was terrifying. It was probably the hardest race I’ve ever had to drive because of how hard I was having to concentrate.

“I was just saying to my girlfriend Lauren that it really knocked the life out of me, because I had to concentrate beyond belief to just not put it in the wall.”

Smith said he was now looking forward to a break in the four-week gap before the next round.

“It’s good to go back to somewhere where we are strong, and we’ll probably go testing between now and Oulton,” he said.

“I go away next weekend with Lauren which will be nice, just to de-stress, and come back fighting fit…”