Power Maxed Racing’s Árón Taylor-Smith is determined to get a win in the final British Touring Car Championship race day of the season at Brands Hatch, having qualified fifth for the opening race.
Taylor-Smith made it through to the ‘Quick Six’ Q3 part of qualifying for the fifth time in a row on Saturday, all of which have come in the second half of the season.
The Irishman, who was just under half a second from pole, was thus proud of his achievement, as he is one of only two drivers, along with Colin Turkington, to achieve the feat in the second half of the year.
“I feel like qualifying has probably been my Achilles heel over the last few seasons,” said Taylor-Smith to TouringCars.Net. “Working with Martin [Broadhurst, Team Manager] and everyone on the car to improve my driving, more so than the chassis, has allowed me to improve on that.
“Doing five Q3s in a row – every one since the mid-season break – is something that I am insanely proud of. The goal coming into this year was to get through to them regularly, so to now be one of the drivers that is able to it, not effortlessly, but on a regular basis is something I’m really proud of.”
Taylor-Smith is fighting to end the season sixth overall in the drivers’ standings, and in any case is looking to be on target for his best-ever championship finish in ten seasons of racing in the BTCC.
The 34-year-old puts his upturn in performance down to an increased commitment in preparing himself for a race weekend.
“I think I am methodical in my approach to every race weekend. It starts with a thousand laps on the simulator for any track I go to, so over the course of a year I’m probably doing the mileage of three seasons on the trot.
“As the season goes on I’m exponentially growing as a driver and being able to maximise my own performance.
“Every driver on this grid is talented, but the people that prepare to a [high] level outshine those that are just talented alone.
“The team have given me the tools to be able to do that by highlighting the areas that I personally need to focus on.
“I’m not saying I’m any kind of superstar; I feel like I am just outworking a lot of the drivers and that is now giving me the confidence any time I get out in the car to know we can be one of the quickest.”
Looking ahead to the final race day of the year, Taylor-Smith is determined to fight for a win now that he has no championship title of his own to be concerned about.
“I want to win, that’s the fact of it. I think we have a package this weekend that can sign of the season with an outright win, and that’s what I’m focussed on.
“Yes, the championship protagonists have to be mindful more than me, because all I want is to win. I have nothing to lose.
“We’ve wrapped up my Independents’ championship and we’re in a great place, so now all I can do is really let loose.
“I’m not going to end anyone’s championship, but I’m not afraid to get stuck in and try to get a result for this team.”