SMITH WANTS MORE R5 OUTINGS AFTER WIN
Four-wheel-drive debut whets smith’s appetite
After winning on his four-wheeldrive debut in a Ford Fiesta R5 last weekend, Mat Smith says he wants more outings in the car but a decision on future events “is not up to him”.
Smith took victory by less than two seconds in a last-stage shootout with Charlie Payne’s Fiesta RS WRC on Saturday’s Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.
He was given the opportunity by Swift Caravans boss Pete Smith, who supports Matt Edwards’ rally career. Edwards had sealed the BTRDA title and Peter Smith decided to give Mat Smith the opportunity, having impressed in a Swift-supported Ford Fiesta R2 prize drive earlier in the season.
“It’s just way beyond what I could have expected, it really is. But I could retire now, I’ve won a rally haven’t I?” joked Mat Smith.
“We just tried to keep it tidy, that kind of went out the window on the final stage as it was so close. There were a couple of places we made a few mistakes and I thought we’d lost it. I wouldn’t say it was lairy but it was just stupid mistakes that could have cost us.
“I found the car quite easy to drive and it’s not what I expected. I thought it would be so different to what I’ve done before.”
Mat Smith is a farmer and drives a Proton Satria 1400 sporadically in the BTRDA. But Pete Smith likes to support drivers who show talent and drive. The drivers don’t get everything paid for, but get the majority and the driver must then find the rest.
Peter Smith gave Edwards a similar opportunity on the 2016 Carlisle Stages, which led to Smith supporting Edwards’ 2017 British Rally Championship season which continued for 2018.
Smith’s victory ended Payne’s three-event winning streak on the Trackrod, a fourth triumph would have been a record.
“To beat Stephen [Petch, 2016 BTRDA champion] as well, means we’ve had a great day,” said Smith.
When asked whether he would get to drive the car again in the future, he added: “I didn’t really know this was happening until a few weeks ago. Further forward is not down to me.” Additional reporting by Stephen Brunsdon