The 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Mondello Park in Ireland for the second meeting of the season. We caught up with VX Racing's Gavin Smith to ask him some questions ahead of his home races.

1. Which book are you reading at the moment?
I don’t read books. I’m more of an outdoors person. Reading books is too reserved for me – I’d rather be on a mountain bike.

2. Who are your sporting heroes?
David Beckham. Everybody had the perception that he was clueless but in my opinion he’s a great business man. I think he’s definitely got the last laugh.

3. How did you do at school?
I stayed ‘til the end then I tried college but I just got bored. I did business studies and marketing and I got my diploma and then I started computer programming but got sick of it and went into the family business selling building materials.

4. Did you pass your driving test first time?
Yes.

5. Any hidden talents?
I’m a pretty normal kind of guy. I’d like to think I’m an entrepreneur. I work very hard at my business and it’s paid dividends. I launched my own hire plant business three years ago and it’s really expanding now. I’ve started going into property developments and investment.

6. Are any of your family working in motorsport?
My older brother, Quentin, races in the Irish Fiat Punto Challenge. We started racing at the same time in the same championship with the same team. I got enough breaks to win the championship and Quentin finished about 12th. I went into different championships and he stayed where he was. My younger brother, Aron, has just started racing in the European Karting Championship.

7. What will you do when you finish racing?
When I finish racing I hope racing has been good enough for me to retire! If not, I’ve got enough going on outside the racing car but racing takes main priority.

8. Do you get recognised very often?
The only time I’m recognised is when I’ve got my race suit on. I’d rather it that way. I enjoy my racing and when it’s finished I’d rather just walk away and not be pestered.

9. What made you want to be a racing driver?
When I was younger I was always into motorsport. Growing up I was into motorcross bikes and quad bikes – anything with an engine, I was mad about it. The racing was just another branch of that. My parents were good enough to support me and it took off from there. Now my dad will be there snow, hail – whatever. He loves it.

10. What road car do you drive?
A Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch – it’s just one of the perks of the job. If I didn’t have that I’d be driving a van on the road.

11. What’s the most exciting car you’ve ever driven and why?
On the road it’s probably a Mercedes CLK AMG – I thought that was the most rewarding car. It had everything we wanted and it was quite discreet. I’m quite a discreet person. I just like having something that’s nice and comfortable that you can park anywhere.

12. How do you prepare for races?
When I’m going for a race weekend, I come over on the Thursday morning and have the Wednesday off work so I can switch off. I have to get to bed early because you want to feel right getting into the car.

13. Do you have any superstitions or lucky charms?
It’s easy to get into those superstitions but I always say b****cks to that! When you lose your lucky charm you just feel totally knackered!

14. How do you train between races?
Before the 2005 season I went to a three-day test at Magny-Cours. I hadn’t done any training and by halfway through the first day I was wrecked. It kind of woke me up and since that it’s snowballed. It definitely had an impact on my results last season and I’ve made a conscious effort to give it 100 per cent this year.

15. Who do you rate in the field at the moment?
It’s very hard to know. It’s a bit like these lucky charms – if you start looking up to people you’re racing against you’d be afraid to tackle them. With my team-mates, Yvan Muller was brilliant – nothing seemed to phase him, and Giovanardi seems to be of the same kind of pedigree.

16. How do you celebrate your successes?
It’s difficult to celebrate when you have to fly home the same night … but if I win my first race this year, you won’t need to worry about - I’ll definitely be celebrating!

17. Explain your helmet design
It’s very patriotic. There’s a lot of green, white and orange and a leprechaun on the back which I thought was quite funny.

18. What is your worst moment in motorsport?
I’ve had loads! I’ve done some stupid things but if I make a mistake I put my hands up. You should hear some of the excuses I’ve heard from other drivers through the years though – just unreal!

19. What was the best moment?
I won a race at Rockingham in the SEAT Cupra 2003 championship. It was my first race win in England and it meant an awful lot to me. Forty thousand people were at the meeting and there was a lot of pressure on. I remember seeing my dad and he was almost in tears.

20. What’s the most important trait to have as a racing driver?
To listen. There’s a whole lot of people involved in producing a winning car, it’s not all about the driver. You’ve got to gel with your team.