Brett Smith targets maiden podium from second row

Brett Smith said his focus is firmly on trying to secure a maiden BTCC podium finish after a strong performance in qualifying at Thruxton.

The Eurotech Racing driver posted the third best time in the session to pick up the best qualifying result of his career to date; his previous best having been ninth at Silverstone last year and Donington Park last time out.

Having taken his best result so far with fourth in the opening race at Donington, Smith said his focus now was on going one better when Sunday’s races come around having exceeded his expectations in putting his car on the second row of the grid.

“Pleased is an understatement,” he said. “We know that the Honda is a strong car around here but I’m chuffed with third – absolutely delighted. I haven’t got a lot of experience here as I’ve only done a test in a Clio a few years ago and then the test last month, but it’s going okay!

“To be honest, I thought it would be good if I could get within a tenth or so of Jack [Goff – who qualified 14th] so I exceeded the expectations we had going into the session.

“Now I want to try and get onto the podium and I think we have a good chance with the pace the Honda has round here. We got close at Donington with the fourth place so my aim is to try and stick with Matt and Colin, not do anything stupid, and see what happens.”