Latest news with #RestartRacing
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
McLaughlin takes F4 lead with Snetterton win
Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin won his first race of the season to take the lead in the British Formula 4 standings. McLaughlin, from Magherafelt, won the third race at Snetterton with a commanding drive from pole position. The 17-year-old now leads the overall championship by nine points over Martin Molnar of Hungary, as well as the rookie standings after three rounds. McLaughlin had taken pole position for the first race before a mistake while leading dropped him down the order. However, he rebounded by finishing eighth in race two before his victory in the final race of the weekend. "I was really rooting for the victory. In that last one I was really fast and I came away with the win," said Hitech driver McLaughlin. "Every racing driver loves it when you're on your own and you have a big gap behind, so the stress was low and I just tried to manage the gap and stay calm." In the British Touring Car Championship, which was also racing at Snetterton, Northern Ireland's Chis Smiley had another strong weekend with two top-10 finishes to move into eighth in the standings. The Restart Racing driver was set to start the third and final race from second on the grid but an electrical issues on his Hyundai forced him to miss the Green flag. The three BTCC races were won by Ford duo Dan Cammish and Daniel Rowbottom, before Power Maxed Racing's Mikey Doble claimed the final race.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
McLaughlin takes F4 lead with Snetterton win
Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin won his first race of the season to take the lead in the British Formula 4 from Magherafelt, won the third race at Snetterton with a commanding drive from pole 17-year-old now leads the overall championship by nine points over Martin Molnar of Hungary, as well as the rookie standings after three had taken pole position for the first race before a mistake while leading dropped him down the order. However, he rebounded by finishing eighth in race two before his victory in the final race of the weekend."I was really rooting for the victory. In that last one I was really fast and I came away with the win," said Hitech driver McLaughlin."Every racing driver loves it when you're on your own and you have a big gap behind, so the stress was low and I just tried to manage the gap and stay calm."In the British Touring Car Championship, which was also racing at Snetterton, Northern Ireland's Chis Smiley had another strong weekend with two top-10 finishes to move into eighth in the Restart Racing driver was set to start the third and final race from second on the grid but an electrical issues on his Hyundai forced him to miss the Green three BTCC races were won by Ford duo Dan Cammish and Daniel Rowbottom, before Power Maxed Racing's Mikey Doble claimed the final race.
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.
