Brett Smith delighted by maiden BTCC pole

Brett Smith admitted he was thrilled to secure his maiden BTCC pole position in qualifying for the season finale at Brands Hatch.

The Eurotech driver edged out Dan Cammish in a session dominated by Honda drivers, who locked out the first five places on the grid.

It marked the fourth successive Brands Hatch meeting where Eurotech have scored pole position, with Smith delighted with his result.

“I’ve always thought Brands Hatch was a bogey circuit for me in the past in other formula but in the BTCC, it seems to be different,” he said. “I was quick here last year in practice before I was a numpty and binned it in qualifying, and I’d have been happy with P5 as this is a tough circuit.

“I had a lot more confidence in the car compared to practice and I’m chuffed to bits to get P1.”

Smith will now seek to challenge for a first win on race day and he admitted that the lack of a rear-wheel drive car near the front could work in his favour.

“The top five being Hondas mean no rear-wheel drive threat in the first few corners,” he said. “The aim is to get a good start, which hasn’t been a strong thing this year for me, and then go from there.

“I know Matt [Neal] and Dan [Cammish] won’t do anything dirty and I have to try and maintain my place at the front and push for at least a podium finish. Hopefully I’ll be able to run at the front, set my own pace and push for a victory.”