HOME BTCC DEBUT FOR IRISH ROOKIE SMITH
Ireland's Gavin Smith will make his Green Flag MSA British
Touring Car debut on home ground when the championship's latest
three rounds are staged at County Kildare's Mondello Park
circuit on 12-13 June.
Smith will replace Kelvin Burt in Team Sureterm's Vauxhall
Astra Coupe. The 25-year-old currently lies second in the
Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship that is not in action
in Ireland, leaving him free to fulfil his ambition of racing
in the BTCC. He is excited at the prospect of racing in Britain's
premier motor racing series on its only visit of the year
to Ireland.
"The BTCC is where I want to be full-time and this is
a golden opportunity to show what I can do, particularly with
my knowledge of Mondello and in front of my home crowd,"
said Rathfarnham-based Smith.
"I will only have two 45-minute sessions on the Saturday
morning to acclimatise to the speed of the BTCC Astra and
then it will be straight into qualifying before Sunday's three
races.
"My goal is to finish in the top ten and score some
points, although it's going to be a whole new world. The BTCC
is the pinnacle of touring car racing and the action makes
it one of the most exciting championships anywhere in the
world. But I'm confident I can cut it and that my performances
could leave the door open for a return later in the season."
Should he go on to win the Cupra title, Smith, who has already
won three of the championship's opening six rounds, will guarantee
himself a touring car drive with SEAT in 2005.
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