BRADLEY Smith admitted his maiden Ginetta GT4 Supercup win was a shot in the arm after a tricky start to the season.

The Billericay racing driver only joined the series this year and overcame early mechanical problems at Croft to claim his first victory this year.

Smith and his Mectech Motorsport team had to replace the differential on his sports car before going on to secure the top step of the podium in the third race at the Yorkshire circuit.

“Its been such a tough start to the year for us, so to get a win going into the half way break is a big boost for me and the team,” said Smith.

“We have all been working non-stop to find improvements in me and the car and I think it is all starting to come together now.

“The more time we have on track the stronger we become. Hopefully we can challenge for more race wins in the second half of the season.”

Following a disappointing qualification, Mectech mechanics replaced the differential and Smith started the race from the pit lane, two laps down.

But he said the car felt better following the swap and it paid dividends when he finished eighth in the second race after progressing through the field and enjoying a see-saw battle with Michael Caine.

Smith started race three in eighth and after a great couple of opening laps had moved up to fifth.

Echo:

Bradley smith in action at Croft on his way to victory

Smith then picked off Jackson and Wrigley in the hairpin to move up to third by the halfway point.

And after a move around the outside of Caine in the Complex, Smith was left to chase down race leader Reece Somerfield who had opened up a five-second lead from the battling pack.

Smith took the lead from Somerfield on lap 10 and continued to pull a six-second lead and took his first race win of the season.

“I could see Reece out in front and didn’t think I could close the gap,” said Smith.

“But the car felt great and it held in really well in the hot conditions and hardly dropped off, which allowed me to keep pushing to close the gap.”

The next round is at Snetterton on August 8 and 9. Smith is ninth in the championship.

n Bradley Smith