Our very own sponsored driver, Aaron Smith, has kicked off the 2024 Mini Miglia championship in style! Despite some early challenges, Aaron's talent and dedication have him firmly in the championship fight.
Aaron Smith Charges into the Mini Miglia Championship!
![aaron-smith-mini-miglia-side-donington Aaron Smith's Mini Miglia at Donington Park, to compete in the championship.](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-mini-miglia-side-donington-1.jpg)
Mini Miglia Championship Rounds 1-2: Donington Park
The opening rounds at Donington Park were a rollercoaster ride. Tricky weather conditions made qualifying a gamble, but Aaron secured a strong P2 starting position for Race 1. The race itself was a nail-biter, with Aaron leading at times before ultimately finishing a respectable 3rd.
Race 2, however, saw some heart-stopping moments. A slight touch sent Aaron off-track, dropping him from 2nd to nearly last place. Never one to give up, Aaron fought his way back through the pack to finish an impressive 9th.
![cadwell-park-race-track Cadwell Park Race Circuit ready for the Mini Miglia Championship](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cadwell-park-race-track-1.jpg)
Mini Miglia Championship Rounds 3-4: Cadwell Park
Cadwell Park offered a more positive experience. After a pre-weekend test to ensure the car was back in top form following Donington, Aaron qualified a solid P4. Race 1 was another close battle, with Aaron finishing a well-deserved 3rd after a thrilling 4-car fight to the line.
Unfortunately, Sunday's race was canceled due to heavy rain, leaving everyone frustrated but ultimately safe.
![aaron-smith-with-mini-cadwell-park Aaron Smith with his Mini Miglia, at the Championship](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-with-mini-cadwell-park.jpg)
![aaron-smith-mini-cadwell-park The front of Aaron's Mini Miglia, with the other competitors](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-mini-cadwell-park.jpg)
Mini Miglia Championship Rounds 5-6: Snetterton
Snetterton brought sunshine and a new set of challenges. Aaron qualified 5th, but an electrical gremlin plagued the car, forcing a retirement in Race 1. The team sprung into action, diagnosing and fixing the issue just in time for Race 2.
Starting 6th, Aaron quickly joined the top 3 battle. A dramatic turn of events saw a competitor crash, bringing out the red flag and ultimately handing Aaron the victory based on his lead position on the previous lap. A fantastic comeback after a difficult start to the weekend!
![aaron-smith-snetterton-race_3 Number 1 on Aaron Smiths Mini Miglia](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-snetterton-race_3.jpg)
![aaron-smith-snetterton-race_1 Aaron Smith at Snetterton Race Circuit](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-snetterton-race_1.jpg)
Thruxton Thrills
The high-speed Thruxton circuit threw another curveball at Aaron, presenting him with the opportunity to race not just in the Mini Miglia Championship, but also take a guest drive in a Mini 7!
Mini 7: Aaron thrived in the challenge, showcasing his versatility behind the wheel. He secured a solid P5 in qualifying and delivered consistent performances, finishing P5 and P4 in Races 1 & 2 respectively.
Mini Miglia: Qualifying P2 put Aaron in a prime position to battle for the podium. While a red flag in Race 1 halted his fight for a top-three finish, he landed a P4.
Race 2 saw Aaron unleash his competitive spirit! An incredible rocket start propelled him into the lead, and despite another red flag, a safety car restart allowed him to showcase his driving prowess, ultimately securing a well-deserved P2 finish.
Thruxton proved to be a fantastic weekend for Aaron, demonstrating his exceptional talent and adaptability.
![aaron-smith-racing-a-mini-seven Aaron Smith with Graeme Davis' Mini 7 in preparation for his guest driving appearance.](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-racing-a-mini-seven.jpg)
![aaron-smith-interview-for-itv-sport Aaron Smith being interviewed for ITV Sport at the Mini Miglia Championship](https://miniblog.minisport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aaron-smith-interview-for-itv-sport.jpg)
The whole of Team Mini Sport are incredibly proud of Aaron's performance so far and are excited to see what the rest of the season holds. Stay tuned & Follow us on Social Media (Facebook, Instagram & X) for further updates and reports on Aaron's progress in the Mini Miglia championship!