In just his first year tackling the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC), Brent Smoothy is already looking forward to his future in the sport.
Currently ranked 25th on the outright standings, the West Australian has had mixed results in the AORC, having failed to finish the Cobb & CO Hotel St George 399.
The 39-year-old bounced back for the Tatts Finke Desert Race where he crossed the iconic finish line inside the top 15 and seventh in class.
With the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race and the Can-Am Loveday 400 still left in the 2021 season, Smoothy still has plenty of opportunity to improve.
“We’re really excited for Kalgoorlie and we’re looking forward to get out there again,” Smoothy said.
“The truck is going like a dream at the moment and our first year doing the AORC has been alright all things considered.
“We had a bit of trouble at St George, where we blew up an engine, but we had a good run at Finke, so the bugs seem fixed and the engine is feeling great. We’re pumped for the Kalgoorlie and Loveday double header.
“We go okay in Kalgoorlie – we finished fourth two years ago, but didn’t do much last year, so I think with the truck in a better position, I think we should be at least within the top 10.
“And then going to Loveday the following week will be a good challenge. It’s good to see the AORC making the effort to finish the season off and I think this will be an interesting two weeks.”
Although Smoothy has had a confidence boost ahead of the remaining rounds of the season, he is predicting a steep rise up the standings sooner rather than later.
If everything continues to go right for him, then a top five outright finish wouldn’t be out of the question in the next few years.
“I honestly think that we can get better soon. Right now, everything is clicking and we have fixed some of the bugs that have been a problem,” Smoothy said.
“Fitness is another big thing that a lot of people underestimate. Once I can get that sorted, that will be another step towards improving because right now, the bugs are almost fixed and we have the right equipment.
“It all comes down to us and we’re quite confident that once the new 7-litre rule is brought in, we could be somewhere deep in that top 10.”
