Restart Racing is a British racing team which currently competes in the British Touring Car Championship. The team won the 2022 TCR UK Touring Car Championship with Chris Smiley.
The team planned to enter Scott Sumpton into the 2024 TCR Europe Touring Car Series, but later withdrew to fully focus on their BTCC efforts. The team originally was only based in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland but has expanded to Snetterton, Norfolk and Colchester, Essex.
History
British Touring Car Championship
2024 Ahead of the 2024 British Touring Car Championship season, the team announced their movement of the team to the BTCC, departing the TCR UK Touring Car Championship. The team retained Chris Smiley and Scott Sumpton from their TCR UK outfit going into the season. The personnel of the team was similar to the last team Smiley co-owned, being BTC Norlin Racing. The team opted to run 2 Cupra Leóns with the TOCA/M-Sport engine in the cars. Smiley's former engineer Ben Taylor was appointed team principal.
2025 The team signed an alliance with EXCELR8 Motorsport, which included 2 Hyundai i30s. Chris Smiley was kept for a second consecutive campaign, whilst former EXCELR8 Motorsport driver Daniel Lloyd was brought in, replacing Scott Sumpton. The team would rise up the pecking order, fighting for wins at Snetterton and Silverstone. Daniel Lloyd brought the team's first BTCC win at the Silverstone round in race 1, fending off champions such as Gordon Shedden and Jake Hill. The team would win the Independents' constructors as Lloyd brought the team the Independent Drivers' Championship win as Power Maxed Racing struggled after their fire in August.
2026 Daniel Lloyd would step away from his seat at the team after budget issues and his intent to expand his career in driver management. Partnering Smiley would be former Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with IAA driver James Dorlin, who dropped out after Knockhill in 2025 after being replaced by Josh Cook. The team would also gain a big sponsorship from Silverstone's Escapade, revealing their car at the Northamptonshire venue. Lloyd would later return to the BTCC after the Knockhill round, replacing James Dorlin.
Mini Challenge UK In July 2025, Restart Racing expanded to the Mini Challenge UK by backing Max Edmundson.
Racing results British Touring Car Championship Year Name CarNo. Driver Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points DCCC PtsCC2024Restart RacingCupra León29 Scott Sumpton3000002021st1818th222 Chris Smiley 30 0 0 0 0 70 17th2025Restart RacingHyundai i30 Fastback N Performance22 Chris Smiley30001114014th3864th123 Daniel Lloyd30101112815th2026Restart RacingHyundai i30 Fastback N Performance22 Chris Smiley240000113*16th*231*7th*123 Daniel Lloyd6000017*21st*132 James Dorlin18000069*17th* *– Season in progress.
References