With Sumpton staying with the team in this exciting new programme, this also means Scott continues his great working relationship with Chris Smiley from last season.
The 19-year-old from Essex graduates after two successful seasons in touring car competition, racing in 2022-2023 in the TCR UK championship where he became a regular front-runner and points-finisher, as well as a fast qualifier. This was followed by a short spell in the 20+ car strong TCR Spain series where he scored a pair of podiums in a brand-new car and at his first time at both the Jerez and Barcelona-Catalunya circuits.
With Sumpton confirmed in the team’s second car, the team has a consistent line-up as it moves into the highly-competitive BTCC. The team’s already hard at work redeveloping the CUPRA Leon ahead of the new season, which gets underway on April 27-28 at Donington Park.
Scott Sumpton said:
“I’m looking forward to this season more than anything. To race in the BTCC is almost every UK driver’s dream, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to develop as a driver and get to benchmark myself against some of the best drivers in motorsport.
“I’m also really happy to be racing again with Restart Racing. I joined this team last year and instantly felt at home. They’ve helped me so much to improve as a racing driver, and our results at the end of the year are a testament to the work we’ve done together. To carry that on into the BTCC is the natural next step.
“Of course I’m under no illusions, the BTCC is an incredibly competitive championship. My goal for this year is to carry on learning, hopefully to fight for points in the races, and also contend for the Jack Sears Trophy and take some wins in that class.
“I’m also very happy to have the support of Trade Nation as my first partner coming onboard this year, and we’re looking to build a strong relationship. Let’s have a good year!”
Ben Taylor, team principal, said:
“We’re really happy to have Scott onboard for a second season with us, and he’s a logical choice to bring both consistency as well as exciting new and young talent with us as we join the BTCC.
“Scott’s made incredible progress in the last year, and we’re really excited to see what he can do in the BTCC in our CUPRA Leon. He also works really well with Chris Smiley, who’s a fantastic mentor as well as a driver.
“It’s great for us as a team to have our programme in-place so early on, so we can spend the next three months getting ready for the start of the season, and to compete against the already-established competition. This year is going to be an exciting challenge, and one we’re relishing as a young operation.”
Images
Artwork credit Restart Racing
Photo credit Phil Laughton Photography
About
Restart Racing has prepared, raced, and won at some of the most famous race circuits in the world. The team has built up a wealth of experience in the motorsport industry and made it its business to consistently build and run race-winning cars.
Over the years the team has run cars by manufacturers such as Honda, TVR, BMW, Chevrolet, Vauxhall, Porsche, Hyundai and Volkswagen in the BTCC, GT3 sports car series, and Hot Rods.
In 2022, our Essex-based professional team competed in the hard-fought TCR UK Touring Car Championship with Chris Smiley at the wheel, pitted against a total of 16 other teams. Having collected our race car from Honda’s specialist preparation company in Italy only days before the start of the season, Chris went on to secure pole position and win the first race at Oulton Park, and would go on to win the championship at Snetterton at the final round.
It turned out to be a great season of racing at some of the UK’s premier circuits, culminating in the team being chosen to represent the UK at the prestigious FIA Motorsport Games at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, where Chris Smiley finished in eighth position against competitors from around the world.
In 2024, the team heads to the UK’s premier motorsport category, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, with Chris Smiley returning to the series where he’s a proven race winner, competing with a pair of CUPRA Leons.
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is one of the best-loved, most illustrious and famous motor racing championships in the world. Only Formula 1 and America’s NASCAR stock car series have longer histories – since its inception in 1958, it has attracted and captivated millions of fans around the world.
The BTCC’s two-litre formula continues to provide one of motor sport’s most addictive, action-packed atmospheres for an audience of millions. It is the perfect platform for teams, drivers and sponsors to raise their profiles and reputations.
