Aron Smith described his Rockingham victory for Team BKR as the “sweetest” to date of his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship career.
A former three-time BTCC winner, Smith lead from lights to flag in the final race of the day at the Corby circuit on Sunday to clinch a maiden victory for the rookie Volkswagen CC outfit, fending off double champions Gordon Shedden and Colin Turkington.
Following a tough qualifying session on Saturday in thunderstorm conditions, the rise to the fore the following day was a result that Smith himself did not think was possible.
Speaking to The Checkered Flag afterwards, Smith declared it his sweetest BTCC to date, commenting: “After qualifying we were so dejected and down in the dumps, so to come out and get a win is like nothing else.
“The other times I’ve won, we’ve always been chipping away at the front so I kind of knew it was coming.”
Photo: BTCC Media
“After yesterday, we didn’t think it was possible. That’s what has made this so much sweeter than any other in the past. It’s the first one for BKR, I had the first one for BMR and I like the role of being involved with a team from day one and seeing them flourish.
“We had two great meetings at Brands and Donington but then form fell away a little. We just fought so hard this weekend and all of a sudden, we snatched a win.
“This team will be a force to be reckoned with next year when we have some new kit.”
The Irishman’s most recent victory was not made to be an easy one however, a brace of safety car interruptions bringing the charging Honda Civic Type-R and Subaru Levorg GT of Shedden and Turkington respectively back onto his tail during the race.
Smith said: “I set the fastest lap and got a good three seconds up the road and then all of a sudden the safety car came out and took it all away. We got away again and the same thing happened again. It was just a race of attrition. I was hoping on every restart I could get the one that I wanted.
“The first restart was one of the best I’ve ever had but then Gordon [Shedden] was a bit wiser to it and kept with me to a few car lengths, which made it tricky.”
Team BKR have enjoyed a strong debut season in BTCC, Smith currently sitting 14th in the championship during a season that he admitted has been thoroughly enjoyable.
“We’ve all become really good mates. It’s nice that we’re just a group of friends that come out to take on these big manufacturers and be able to beat them. It’s cool.”
