Aron Taylor-Smith remaining positive despite safety car penalty

Aron Taylor-Smith is remaining positive despite being demoted back to fifth in the British Touring Car Championship Qualifying Race at Oulton Park.

The MB Motorsport driver claimed first place in qualifying around the Cheshire circuit and then led every lap of the subsequent 13-lap contest.

However, the Irishman was deemed guilty of weaving when the safety car lights went out and was handed a five-second penalty, which dropped him from first to fifth.

Despite that, the Brands Hatch race-winner is optimistic that he can still have a strong race day in his Toyota Corolla GR Sport.

“It was an oversight on my part,” said Taylor-Smith. “I completely forgot that that regulation had been introduced. I feel like the penalty of five seconds is a bit harsh but it is what it is.

“If you’d have told me at the start of the day that we’d start from pole position and then go on to finish in fifth then I’d have snapped your hand off.

“We’ve got one of the fastest cars this weekend and that’s a huge credit to the team. We’re starting on the third row of the grid and have the maximum amount of TOCA Turbo Boost available so there is plenty to be excited about.”