Ciceley Motorsport’s Tom Oliphant says he achieved his target by qualifying his Mercedes-Benz A Class in fifteenth position for his British Touring Car Championship debut.
The rookie was pleased with his consistency on Saturday, placing fifteenth in both practice sessions before repeating that performance during qualifying.
“I’m happy with that – my aim was top 15, and that happened in every session today,” said Oliphant to TouringCars.Net.
“I felt like we had potential to be a little bit higher, but I didn’t quite put my sectors together.
“I could have been maybe half a tenth or a tenth quicker which would have put me up nearer tenth but starting fifteenth I’m already in the points and I’m really happy.”
He admits his priority is three solid points finishes, but is hoping for progress throughout the day.
“I’ve got some good drivers around me – some experienced drivers – but I love a good race and I definitely think that if we don’t get knocked off we can go forward.
“Hopefully over the course of race one we can pick up a couple of places, and maybe race two a couple more and then see where we lie for the reverse grid.
“You never really know what’s going to happen with that, but overall three finishes in the points is key for me tomorrow, and hopefully start off our season on a positive note.”
With rainfall overnight at Brands Hatch causing a damp circuit on Sunday morning, Oliphant admits his inexperience in front-wheel drive machinery may cause him problems, after spending the past few seasons racing rear-wheel drive Ginettas and Porsches.
“I’m not the most experienced in a front-wheel drive car so when it goes sideways it might not suit me too much.
“But I’ve got to learn sometime, and it’s best to learn from the first race. Anything can happen.”