Brett Smith has set himself the target of ‘snapping at the heels’ of his Eurotech Racing team-mate Jack Goff in 2018, as he enters his second season – and first full campaign – in the British Touring Car Championship.
Smith joined the BTCC mid-way through 2017 when he stepped in for father and team owner Jeff Smith after his accident at Croft. The 25-year-old progressively improved towards the end of the year, before scoring a season-best result of 11th in the final meeting, whilst Goff bagged five podiums from the final five events.
“To be honest, the plans for 2018 started last year as I was basically testing in public,” said Smith to TouringCars.Net. “I always had the idea to go full attack for [2018] – obviously having spent half a season testing in public and racing, it accelerated an already steep learning curve. Basically 2017 is when my preparations started for 2018.”
With a part-season under his belt and no longer classed as a rookie, Smith has set himself some more ambitious targets for 2018 – with his main aim to be close to team-mate Goff, who ended last season sixth overall in the championship in the same machinery.
“You’ve got to take into consideration my experience – I’ve been racing for seven years and I think that Jack has probably got double that on me. He’s been racing in touring cars as long as I’ve been racing.
“I need to appreciate that there’s a level of inexperience and naïvety there. My aim is to be ideally a couple of tenths off Jack and be snapping at his heels on most weekends as best as I can.”
The former Mini Challenge racer also expects the team’s switch from Swindon to Neil Brown Engineering engines to allow greater flexibility in setting up the car to its optimum in 2018.
“As good and reliable as the Swindon engine is, they’re not allowing you too much scope in terms of driveability and improve that car-to-car [relationship], so as a result we’ll run slightly different mapping compared to the works Hondas.
“Because of the amount of cars that Swindon run, they can’t afford that level of freedom. As good as their engine was, I think the Honda is just that little bit better.”
Smith also commented on his father Jeff’s recovery, who continues to be responsible for the general strategy and direction, whilst ex-Tech-Speed boss Marvin Humphries manages the team.
“I can’t imagine him [getting back behind the wheel] in anger,” added Smith. “It’s looking really promising in terms of his recovery – he’s got to wait until September or October of this year until he can at least start getting back in the gym in terms of training.
“He needs to give that nerve in his arm [some rest], and give that as long as it needs. It’s a massive recovery period; it’s at least a two-year recovery period, so it’s a long time.
“In terms of him getting back behind the wheel of a touring car, at least in anger, I doubt it. But he does own the team, so it’s his say!”