Latest news with #ChrisSmiley
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Podium for Smiley as McLaughlin retakes title lead
Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin reclaimed the lead in the British F4 championship after he won the opening race at Oulton Park. The teenager from Northern Ireland won the first race on Saturday after jumping championship rival Martin Molnar at the start. McLaughlin came into the fifth round of the season behind Molnar in the standings but he reclaimed the championship lead by finishing seventh in race two, while the Hungarian driver retired. In a repeat of the opening race, McLaughlin got past polesitter Molnar heading into the first corner in the final outing of the day and looked set for a dominant vicotry. However, a heavy rain shower caused a number of drivers to slide off the road, including McLaughlin and Molnar, and that allowed Thomas Bearman into the lead. McLaughlin recovered to sixth before a number of safety cars and a red flag halted the race early and half points were awarded. Hitech Racing driver McLaughlin now leads Molnar by 5.5 points ahead of the sixth round of the season in his first year of car racing, McLaughlin also leads the rookie championship by 82.5 points over Bearman, who is the younger brother of Haas Formula 1 driver Ollie. In the British Touring Car Championship, Northern Ireland's Chris Smiley collected his best result of the season by finishing third in race one. The Restart Racing driver qualified second and dropped to fourth on the opening lap, but passed championship leader Ash Sutton on the final lap to take a podium spot. Smiley dropped back to 14th on the slower hard tyre in race two, and an electrical problem forced him to retire from the third and final race of the day. The Carrickfergus driver is ninth in the overall championship and leads the Independent championship after a strong start to the season after five rounds.
Belfast Telegraph
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Chris Smiley happy to fly the flag for Northern Ireland in British Touring Car Championship
Chris Smiley is set to fly the flag for the province in the UK tin top competition following the exit of Donaghmore's Andrew Watson and four-time champion, Colin Turkington. 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.
