Paul Smith preparing rain dance for Super Touring opener

Paul Smith will be hoping for the rain to return for this evening’s opening round of the 2015 Super Touring Car Trophy as he hunts his first victory in the historic series.

The Audi A4 driver took pole position by over a second in the damp conditions at Donington Park, beating off early session challenges from Patrick Watts, John Cleland and Tom Gladdis.

“It was my first time in the wet with it, which was a baptism of fire,” Smith told TouringCarTimes. “It handles totally different to the other car. It’s a slippery track out there, the tyres were new to me so I didn’t know when they were going in, but generally the car felt really good. We’ve just got to see where we can convert it to in the dry.”

Smith was tipped to take the top spot in qualifying with the conditions as they were, with the rain historically suiting the Audi A4 Quattro, and Smith himself setting a blistering pace at Oulton Park last year in the damp conditions.

Some weather forecasts, however, have the weather improving for the season-opening twilight race, although Smith will be doing his best to ensure that won’t happen.

“It’d certainly suit me if it rained again,” he continued. “I’ll be out doing a rain dance later! But I think it’ll be quick in the dry, I matched it with a few of the other cars for power. it’s obviously going to be nowhere near the Hondas but it was certainly up with John. I’ll be there or there abouts I think.”