Matt Simpson was delighted with his re-established Simpson Racing outfit after what he described as a “mega” British Touring Car Championship weekend at Silverstone, in which he scored a brace of top five finishes.
Simpson endured a tough round at Knockhill after making the decision to part ways with Eurotech Racing and re-establish Simpson Racing with renowned engineer Geoff Kingston joining the squad.
After qualifying seventh for race one, Simpson enjoyed two fifth-place finishes in the first two races at Silverstone, before dropping back in the third race after running the slower hard compound Dunlop tyre.
He told TouringCars.Net he was pleased to reward all the hard work of his squad with a competitive weekend, and that he was positive about “laying the foundations” for the future of the team.
“It’s been really good,” said Simpson. “Obviously since starting Simpson Racing at Knockhill it’s been a bit of a rush and it’s just laying the foundations.
“The team we’ve got is absolutely fantastic – they’re all happy and they’re all working well together. Obviously me and Geoff [Kingston] are working really well together.
“It’s just such a happy, good atmosphere. I’m a lot more relaxed, and obviously the sole focus is on myself now and no-one else.”
Simpson has enjoyed his best season in the BTCC to date, securing his maiden pole position and race win at Oulton Park while racing with Eurotech earlier this year, as well as his second ever podium in race three at Rockingham.
He now feels happy he is carrying that momentum forward into the re-established Simpson Racing team, and was pleased to have seen the progress he has made since racing at Silverstone 12 months ago.
“It’s been an absolutely mega weekend we’ve made some fairly small changes but big changes if you like,” explained Simpson. “Yesterday we went a second quicker than we were here last year.
“We moved forward again in the races – obviously the hard tyre wasn’t so good – but we had to make a choice there with what race we were going to run it anyway.
“But yeah it’s been a fantastic weekend and I can’t wait for Brands [Hatch].”
Simpson now believes the target is to record silverware at the final round of the season at the Kent circuit, and prepare for next season as early as possible.
“We’re laying the foundations to finish the year and obviously Geoff is learning the car and how the car is and that’ll then give us a winter programme to move the car forward,” he said.
“Hopefully it’ll come back and potentially be a championship contender next year.
“We’ll be strong at Brands, podiums are definitely the aim and I love the Grand Prix circuit as well so we should be in good shape and I can’t wait to get going.”