BRADLEY Smith overcame an unfamiliar car and driving rain to qualify sixth for his first outing in the NASCAR Euro Series.

Smith had never driven the VGJL Motorsport Toyota Camry until this morning and was further hampered when he got blocked in the pit lane as he tried to pit for a tyre change in the wet.

But he still set the sixth fastest time, although he knows he must deal with the car not being set up for the dry conditions expected for this afternoon's race.

"We were blocked in the pit lane and couldn't get in for a tyre change," said the 23-year-old Billericay driver.

"The first 10 minutes were the best weather wise and it was the first time I had driven the car in the wet.

"I set my fastest time on my third lap but as I got more comfortable, the rain got worse.

"But getting sixth first time out in the car was good although it will be a difficult race because the car is not set up for the dry.

"If we can get a top 10 it will be good but I'm just hoping for a good race."

Smith, who is racing in the Radical Euro Masters this season, was invited to drive in the NASCAR Euro Series by championship sponsor Whelen.

He was given a seat with the new VGJL Motorsport team driving in the Elite 2 category.

The team worked until 1am this morning setting the car up and it was getting quicker each time it went out on the Kent track.

Puerto Rican driver Victor Gonzalez Jr is driving the Camry in the Elite 1 class.

He set the team up with American crew chief Joe Lax and Brands is the first round of the Euro Series that the team has contested.