SMITH "ON A MISSION"
AT MONDELLO PARK
Irishman Gavin Smith says he's on a mission to win in front
of his home crowd at Mondello Park when the Dunlop MSA British
Touring Car Championship races at the County Kildare circuit
on 23 April.
Smith, from Rathfarnham, got his 2006 BTCC season off to
a strong start last weekend at Brands Hatch, Kent with a best
result of fourth place. He currently lies sixth overall in
what is one of the world's most famous motor racing championships.
"I'm on a mission to win," says 28-year-old Smith,
who drives for Vauxhall's title-winning VX Racing team. "Last
year was my first season in the BTCC and I started off unprepared.
But Brands Hatch this time around was much better for me and
after my fourth place last weekend I'm confident my first
podium finish of the season is close. I believe I have the
pace to get podiums and possibly a win.
"I want to win every time out, but obviously a first
ever win in the BTCC at Mondello in front of the Irish people
would be a dream. I want to be on the top step of the podium
and hear the Irish national anthem playing out loud on the
circuit's tannoys."
Smith says that squeezing a fast lap time out of Mondello's
technical, twisting lay-out requires a patient approach, so
those drivers with a cool approach will be rewarded. He is
also confident of carrying on his strong start to 2006 as
his team's Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch was the dominant car
at Mondello last year, winning all three races.
Smith adds: "You really have to think each corner through,
be patient and let the car do the work. Be gentle and the
time will come; try and ‘rag' a time out of the car
and you'll go backwards
"I'm pretty positive. Last year, when I was still getting
the hang of the BTCC, I performed well at Mondello, although
the results probably don't show that.
"I know the areas I need to improve, but I'm quite happy
with how I'm progressing. At Brands I was equal to my new
team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi who's a touring car legend.
"I raced around Mondello a bit in my early days, but
I don't think I've got some great big advantage over the others.
At this level, the drivers know the circuits or get to know
them very quickly. But I'm sure the Astra will suit Mondello.
We won all three races there last year and we've improved
the car quite a bit more in 2006 - it's great on the brakes,
turn-in and over the kerbs which are all important if you're
going to succeed at Mondello."
Smith and the rest of the BTCC grid will be in race action
three times at Mondello on 23 April. In addition to Smith,
among the big names will be SEAT drivers James Thompson and
Jason Plato, Vauxhall team-mates Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tom
Chilton and the reigning BTCC Champion himself Matt Neal,
in his Team Halfords Honda Integra.
In addition, there will be another four races from prestige
manufacturers BMW and Porsche, with their hotly-contested
Formula BMW UK and Porsche Carrera Cup GB championships, plus
the latest rounds of Ireland's very own Formula Sheane and
Dunlop Supercars series.
The event is geared around public entertainment - children
aged 15 and under are admitted free and at lunchtime adults
and children can walk the Pit Lane and meet the drivers and
teams for autographs and plenty of give-aways.
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