Rob Smith is aiming to match, if not better, his career best top six performance from the opening event of the season at Brands Hatch when the Renault UK Clio Cup makes its annual visit to the fastest circuit on the calendar, Thruxton in Hampshire, next weekend, 4th/5th May.Following the recent visit to Donington Park, where he was again a top 10 performer in race conditions, the Goodride Performance Tyres, Grouptyre and BMTR-supported driver is determined to be battling higher up the order during rounds five and six.

At next weekends event Rob will also receive additional backing from Worcester-based Exhaust Tyres and Batteries, who partnered him at the corresponding rounds last year, and High Wycombes Group Tyre Wholesale.Qualifying, as ever, will be a key part of the race weekend for the 20-year-old but at the ultra-fast Thruxton its of paramount importanceparticularly the need to obtain a tow from rival cars to maximise the top speed carried through the fearsome Goodwood, Village and Church corners.I think we should be able to surprise a few people next weekend, said Rob, Itll all come down to qualifying and getting a tow to be quick round the back through the fast stuffyou really do need that tow at Thruxton otherwise it can make a big difference to where you end up starting the races.The other bit at Thruxton is to be good on the brakes into the complex and the chicane, we were good with the braking at Donington last weekend so theres no reason we cant do that again. Im aiming for solid top 10 finishes, at least, and hopefully try and get in that top six and try to be in the fight for our first podium.Going into the third race meeting of the 2013 season, Rob is currently ninth in the main title race and eighth in the Graduate Cup class battle after a strong start to his second year in front-wheel drive saloon cars.An unfortunate non-finish during the first of the two Donington Park races last Saturday, after being wiped out at the first corner, does mean the Total Control Racing driver is a little further shy of the championship top six than he would have liked. However, with each competitor required to drop their lowest score of the season from their eventual points total, Rob isnt too fazed.It was disappointing to be taken out of the first race at Donington but the main thing is to look forward from that, hopefully we wont have any more issues like that and it can be our drop score for the season, he commented.Im feeling positive for Thruxton, we were quick during the pre-season and, had we been able to get a proper run in the official test, would have been strong again. We know the set-up we had worked well so were hopeful of a good weekend, Im really looking forward to it.Qualifying for rounds five and six of the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup will take place at Thruxton next Saturday, 4th May, at 11.20, with the first race of the weekend following at 16.35. Round six of the championship is scheduled to commence at 12.40 on Sunday, 5th May, and will be screened live on ITV4, in High Definition on ITV4 HD and streamed online at www.itv.com/btcc

Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings (after Rd4):9th Rob Smith, 41ptsProvisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Graduate Cup Standings (after Rd4):8th Rob Smith, 56pts