Chris Smiley happy to fly the flag for Northern Ireland in British Touring Car Championship
During the off season, Watson and Toyota Gazoo Racing agreed to part ways following a below par 2024, while a lack of funding and commercial backing meant Portadown man Turkington had to step aside from the West Surrey Racing Team for the year ahead.
That means all eyes will be on Carrickfergus man Smiley, who kicks-off the new campaign with Restart Racing at Donington Park with a 60-minute qualifying session from 3.10pm on Saturday followed by three, 18-lap sprint races on Sunday, with the first of these at 11.50am.
'There is no extra pressure at all,' said Smiley, who won the TCR UK Touring Car Championship drivers' crown with Restart Racing back in 2022, before making the switch to the BTCC with the Norwich squad two years later.
'I have always had great Northern Ireland support and I am very thankful for the people who travel to see me compete – all across the UK each year – from home.
'It is a shame that Colin and Andrew have left the Championship this season, but I have been working hard all winter to make sure I can put on a great show for all the local fans.'
Smiley's pre-season testing finished strongly as he posted the ninth best lap time around the Donington Park National track last week, with that achieved with the help of his new engineer – Martin Broadhurst – and a familiar but much-improved car.
'Switching from the Leon Cupra to the Hyundai i30 N Fastback gives us a real confidence for 2025,' added Smiley.
'Of course, I know it is going to be a big step-up with the Hyundai and the works-supplied Swindon engine it is going to run – but I actually scored the first-ever BTCC podium for the brand in its first weekend of competition back in 2020.
'The car has also moved on quite a bit, with it being developed and improved quite a lot, so our expectations have gone up.
'Our testing at Croft was good; we used the first day to shake down the car and make sure it ran and ironed out all the niggles that is to be expected with a new car.
'Day two was our first day of full testing and we ran through our program and carried that into Donington Park where I am pleased to say we had another positive day compared to the other guys.'
A total of 24 cars, and no fewer than 16 drivers who have already stood on the top step of the podium, will line up on the grid this weekend and usher in the all-new fully sustainable fuel era of the BTCC.
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