Strong pace in practice and qualifying set up AmD with Cobra Exhausts rookie Sam Smelt with a possibility of his first points in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Qualifying his best ever position of sixteenth and three places ahead of his team-mate Ollie Jackson, Sam might have been able to keep it clean and score well in a car that usually has good weekends at Rockingham.
However, the BTCC reared its ugly head when Sam was involved in another persons accident on the first lap of race one and was forced into retirement. Disappointment which ultimately put him on the back foot for the remainder of the weekend.
Twenty-third was his best in race two until further unnecessary contact in race three forced Sam into his second retirement of the day.
In a weekend that started so strongly, it ended badly for a driver who is still searching for his first points in the championship.
But, focussing on the positives, Sam knows that these character building moments might be fruitful for the future,
“I finally managed to sort Saturday our this weekend with strong pace in practice and qualifying, which is the big positive for me to take away from Rockingham.
“I was quick throughout the day and even though I picked up my best result in qualifying, I felt there was more to come and was still a little bit disappointed not to be higher up the grid.
“Unfortunately Sunday turned out to be a day to forget and the contact on the opening lap of race one really put me on the back foot.
“I did what I could to try and make up places in race two but then more contact in the final race forced me to retire again which was a sad way to end race day.
“I’m going to put race day behind me and take the positives forwards to Knockhill where hopefully we can fight for some points.”
