Matt Simpson admits it feels like getting a ‘monkey off his back’ after the Simpson Racing driver put in a best-ever qualifying performance of eighth ahead of the British Touring Car Championship season opener at Brands Hatch.
Simpson’s career prior to touring cars consisted of National Hot Rods and silhouette-style Intermarque cars, giving him an extensive background in rear-wheel drive – the complete opposite to his Honda Civic Type R.
Having already spent time running out of the same garage as Speedworks Motorsport and Team Dynamics, he now says he feels more in control of his car from an engineering perspective at Eurotech Racing.
“It feels like I’ve taken a monkey off my back really, it’s just obviously making the transition – obviously I’ve been predominantly RWD in my racing career so obviously going to FWD has been a major major difficulty for me,” explained Simpson to TouringCars.net
“So it’s just been trying to get my head around what it’s doing and I’ve probably overthought the actual difference if I’m honest, rather than just forgetting about it in the back of your mind, and just thinking about the job.
“But since making the switch to Eurotech I feel part of the team and I feel I’m in control of the car more, from an engineering side as well.
“I really really can’t wait to get started tomorrow.”
Eurotech opened the season in style, placing Jack Goff on pole position and, with Simpson eighth and Brett Smith ninth, all three Honda Civic Type R machines qualified in the top ten.
“Obviously it’s great to have the three Eurotech Hondas in the top ten as well,” he added.
“Hopefully we can try and push on – we’ve got the option tyre for race two as well – I’m hoping that a lot of people have gone race three, just obviously so we can try and make headway.”
Simpson praised the influence of having two fast team-mates like Goff and Smith, admitting they were an excellent yardstick on which to judge his development curve.
“It’s great to have Jack as a teammate and Brett’s obviously very fast as well. It’s so good to have Jack to compare to – he’s so helpful and I’m just relishing the opportunity.”
With rainfall overnight at Brands Hatch ahead of the opening race, Simpson remains unconcerned after significant testing mileage in the wet during the off-season.
“Up until now we’ve done a lot of testing, most of it has been in the wet and I have been very very quick in the wet,” he explained.
“I have been quicker in the wet over the past couple seasons than I have been in the dry – the dry has sort of been my Achilles heel.
“If it’s wet tomorrow then happy days because then we’ll be able to move on up.”