Laser Tools Racing’s Aiden Moffat feels his revised Infiniti Q50 ‘reacted brilliantly’ to the adapted driving style he used to go second-fastest in opening practice of the British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill.
The Scot, who enjoys his home round this weekend, had the strongest showing in the Infiniti since he switched from the Mercedes A-Class mid-season, placing second in the opening practice session behind fellow home hero Rory Butcher.
Moffat gave credit to the team for the hours put in to developing the Q50 since the change, but told TouringCars.Net a change in “mentality” has made the difference in terms of making a step forward in performance.
“The team have been doing a great job so far and I’ve adapted my style, I’ve tried to drive differently,” said Moffat.
“Today I went out there with a different mentality and tried to drive the car in a completely different fashion to how I’ve been doing previously.
“The car just reacted brilliantly to that. I think a massive chunk of it has come from me as well, but the team have been working big hours and putting a lot into this project.
“They’re doing a fantastic job but I’m the guy who’s got to do the job and give them feedback.”
Although Moffat acknowledged the result is only opening practice and may not be truly representative, he felt encouraged by the fact that the move represents a step in the right direction and reflects the team’s focus on car development.
“It’s only free practice but in the last couple of meetings in FP1 we’ve been 28th or 29th or something, so it’s a massive step in the right direction,” he said.
“We’ve still got so far to go with this car and so much further to go and progress in me. There’s a hell of a lot of things we can keep developing.
“This is only the start.”
Although Moffat was positive, he joked that he may not be “the right man” to develop a rear-wheel drive BTCC car in a one-car operation, as it marks only his third meeting racing rear-wheel drive machinery.
“This is my third meeting in a rear-wheel drive race car in my life!
“As a one-car team trying to develop something I’m probably not the right man for the job to be honest!
“Or at least I wouldn’t be able to do it as quick as a lot of the other drives on the grid who have this knowledge and experience already.
“There’s so much more to come from me and the car, I think the biggest change has been within me as a driver for me to be honest.”
The second British Touring Car Championship practice session at Knockhill is set to start at 12:05 BST.