Power Maxed MINI Challenge title contender Rob Smith returns to his ‘home’ track, Oulton Park International Circuit, this Saturday, 8th August, for the resumption of the 2015 season where the 23-year-old intends to reignite his championship bid.
Unlike the first four events of the season, which each featured a trio of races, the Oulton Park race meeting – which runs as part of the second annual northern Mini Festival at the Cheshire track – will be a double-header with rounds 13 and 14 likely to play a key role in the outcome of the title race.
Rob, who resides in Telford in neighbouring Shropshire, has enjoyed strong results at his local venue in the past on both the full length International Circuit and the shorter Island Circuit configuration and is very much looking forward to being back behind the wheel of his MINI F56 as he strives to add to his tally of wins and podiums.
With two race victories and four other rostrum finishes to his credit so far in his first full season in the MINI Challenge, the Evergreen Tyres, BMTR and Grouptyre-backed driver goes into the fifth race meeting of the campaign fourth in the championship standings.
For this coming weekend’s outing, Rob will also enjoy support from Haydock-based business Oak Tyres which is the largest tyre wholesaler in the North West and a main supplier of the Evergreen brand of tyres – Rob’s chief backer in 2015.
“I’m really looking forward to being back at Oulton”, said the Excelr8 Motorsport driver, “We tested there just over a week ago but it rained on and off pretty much all day. We ran slicks in the morning, as the rain wasn’t enough to use full wets until mid-afternoon, but it was still a productive day.
“We’ve changed a few parts on the car now we’re a few rounds into the season and a few bits have been away to be checked over so, hopefully, we’ll be in good shape. I’m aiming to be back where we were at Donington at the start of the year as I definitely want to be fighting for wins again. It’s great having Oak Tyres onboard for the weekend too – hopefully we’ll have something to celebrate.”
While Rob’s most recent memories of Oulton do include a monumental accident last year when he raced in the British Touring Car Championship-supporting Renault UK Clio Cup, his wider experience at the track includes a top 10 finish during his second season in Clios in 2013 – only a double top 10 was prevented by a puncture – and numerous podium finishes prior to that in Formula Ford.
“Ignoring last year in the Clios, Oulton has always been one of my favourites and it’s the circuit I enjoy driving the most in the whole country”, he added, “In Clios in 2013 we did relatively well, I qualified just 0.2 seconds off pole and had a good race keeping Josh Files [the eventual Renault UK Clio Cup Champion] behind me in race two. Fingers crossed we should go well this time in the MINI.”
Qualifying at Oulton Park will get underway at 10.10 on Saturday, 8th August, with round 13 set to follow at 13.45 and round 14 scheduled to begin at 17.10.
Provisional 2015 Power Maxed MINI Challenge Driver Standings (after Rd12): 4th Rob Smith, 439pts
