Win an “unbelievable feeling” for Aron Smith

Aron Smith said his second BTCC win was an “unbelievable feeling” and more special than his first, after giving the fledgling Team BMR squad its maiden win in the championship.

Smith led from lights to flag in the final race in his Volkswagen CC, always managing to keep the pursuing Honda Civic Tourer of Gordon Shedden at a safe distance behind him.

The Irishman took his first victory in sodden conditions at Brands Hatch in 2012, then driving a Ford Focus for Motorbase Performance.

But asked where this win ranked, Smith told TouringCarTimes: “Because it’s the first one ever for Team BMR it’s that much more special, to be honest. The first one was great, and I got the monkey off my back, but these guys needed it more.

“To get a win so early on in the season is an unbelievable feeling.”

Assessing his own performance, Smith added: “Once you get out in front, you can manage the pace of the race. If I decide to go a second and a half a lap faster, they are going to have to try and keep up. So once I got that gap, I could just relax, and look after the tyres where I knew it was going to be tough.

“I quickly worked out Gordon [Shedden] was quick through turn one, we were quick through turn two, and the slow speed stuff was where we could really stretch our legs. I just had to use my head and drive the car strategically.”

It’s an oft-stated racing cliché that it’s hardest for the leader in changing conditions, as he is the first man to arrive on the scene to deal with them.

Asked how he dealt with being this driver, Smith said: “It’s always difficult, because each time you come into each corner you think ‘I’ll brake a little bit later’, so it’s one of those ones where your heart’s in your mouth for the majority of the race.

“You have to be able to feel it through the whole race. You’re changing the brake bias, engine maps, everything. As the circuit dries out you have to adapt, and that’s what I think makes a difference in those conditions.”

A delighted Team BMR boss Warren Scott was full of praise for his team after the race, and said he was pleased with how his own driving was progressing too.

He said: “It is awesome. That is what we came here for. We didn’t want to be here to make the numbers up.

“All of the lads have worked through the winter to get the cars where they need to be, and it’s proved to be worthwhile.

“For me it was another really good weekend. To be anywhere in the top 20, I’m really happy. I got 14th in the last race and my car is quick.”