FIA ETRC returnee Ryan Smith will be going all out to challenge for top positions as he and the OXXO Racing Team return to the FIA European Truck Racing Championship at Hungaroring this weekend.
FIA ETRC returnee Ryan Smith will be going all out to challenge for top positions as he and the OXXO Racing Team return to the FIA European Truck Racing Championship at Hungaroring this weekend.
Smith suffered a tough opening FIA ETRC race at the Red Bull Ring in May when he was forced to miss the final race due to an incident triggered by Alen Draganovic. The resulting damage was also a contributing factor to Smith being unable to join Europe’s most competitive truck racing competition until now, but the British racer will be aiming for the top with his new for 2017 OXXO Racing MAN truck this weekend.
“We are quietly confident and we think our truck will suit this circuit,” said Smith. “Last year we had issues with the brakes but this is a different truck this year and as it stands this look good for us.”
Smith, who will race the 2015 title winning truck campaigned by Norbert Kiss to a record breaking win haul that year, believes that some developments will help him go one better than the second on the road finish he achieved in race four 12-months ago.
On that occasion he was ultimately demoted due to over-speeding at the start of the race, but Smith thinks that 2017 could see him mixing it with the best again in what he acknowledges is a stronger FIA ETRC than last year.
“I think the 2017 field is stronger than last year, certainly at the front anyway,” says the 35 year-old. “Everyone has improved and I think the top six or seven are operating at a higher level. We expect and demand some good results in Hungary and we will be going all out to get them.”
“Last year was the first time we raced at the Hungaroring so it worked out pretty well. Now, hopefully without any issues on brakes and with the experience of being there before, we can give a good account of ourselves. It is a track you can really attack so that suits me down to the ground. I’m not going to hold back and we will really go for it”
Smith will be joined by fellow BTRA competitor Shane Brereton in Hungary this weekend. Check out the full entry list by clicking HERE
Follow the action live all weekend by clicking HERE