CREWE driver Rob Smith is aiming to give himself the perfect birthday present by winning at Silverstone over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Smith, who turns 24 on Saturday, goes into the latest event of the MINI Challenge series off the back of his first podium of the season in his last outing at Brands Hatch.

The series now moves onto the iconic Northamptonshire circuit and Smith, who has raced there before in the Renault UK Clio Cup in 2012, firmly believes he is capable of victory.

“We should be in for some great racing, lots of slipstreaming and overtaking, and hopefully we’ll be up there fighting for the podium,” he said.

“I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t go to Silverstone aiming for wins, the car should be fast and I’ve done hundreds of laps around the National Circuit in the past.”

Smith currently lies fifth in the MINI Challenge driver standings heading into the fifth event having been beset by problems in many races this year.

Car issues hampered him in the season opener at Donington, while conditions at Brands Hatch arguably cost him the chance of another podium place.

However, he is hopeful of a problem-free weekend at Silverstone this time around.

“Even with the problems we’ve still scored consistently and that’s the important thing,” he said.

“At Donington we had some genuine niggles with the car, then at Brands we had some issues with the conditions really.

“I’m confident everything will be good for Silverstone, we’ve got a lot of ideas with things we can try with the car, and my driving, and it has been a happy hunting ground for me.”