Restart Racing

Restart Racing
Founded2022
Founder(s)Pete Jones
Ben Taylor
Chris Smiley
Former namesChris Smiley Racing (2023-2024)
BaseCarrickfergus, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom / Snetterton, Norfolk / Colchester, Essex
Team principal(s)Ben Taylor
Current seriesBritish Touring Car Championship
Former seriesTCR UK Championship
Current driversBritish Touring Car Championship
22. United Kingdom Chris Smiley
123. United Kingdom Daniel Lloyd
Mini Challenge UK
33. United Kingdom Max Edmundson
Noted driversUnited Kingdom James Dorlin
United Kingdom Scott Sumpton
Teams'
Championships		British Touring Car Championship
Independents'
2025
Drivers'
Championships		TCR UK Championship
2022 - Chris Smiley
British Touring Car Championship
Independents'
2025 - Daniel Lloyd

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 Car No. Driver Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points DC CC Pts CC
2024 Restart Racing Cupra León 29 United Kingdom Scott Sumpton 30 0 0 0 0 20 21st 181 8th
222 United Kingdom Chris Smiley 30 0 0 0 0 70 17th
2025 Restart Racing Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance 22 United Kingdom Chris Smiley 30 0 0 1 1 140 14th 386 4th
123 United Kingdom Daniel Lloyd 30 1 0 1 1 128 15th
2026 Restart Racing Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance 22 United Kingdom Chris Smiley 30 0 0 0 0 127 16th 272 8th
123 United Kingdom Daniel Lloyd 10 0 0 0 0 39 20th
132 United Kingdom James Dorlin 18 0 0 0 0 69 18th

*– Season in progress.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Restart Racing. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  2. ↑ TouringCarTimes (23 October 2022). "Chris Smiley lands 2022 TCR UK title as Lewis Kent wins final race". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Racing, Restart (1 November 2023). "Restart Racing confirms TCR Europe programme for Scott Sumpton in 2024". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Scott Sumpton and Restart Racing move into TCR Europe for 2024". TouringCars.Net. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "Restart Racing | LinkedIn". uk.linkedin.com. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "RESTART RACING LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  7. ↑ Racing, Restart (19 January 2024). "Third Millennium to step up its involvement with Restart Racing in 2024". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  8. ↑ Racing, Restart (15 April 2024). "BTCC's Newest Team Breaks Cover". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  9. ↑ salisbury, matt (2 December 2024). "EXCELR8, RESTART RACING CONFIRM MULTI-YEAR BTCC COLLABORATION". EXCELR8 Motorsport. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Racing, Restart (2 December 2024). "Restart Racing are back As TOCA announces TBL holders for 2025 BTCC season". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  11. ↑ "Smiley stays with Restart Racing after switch to Hyundai for 2025 BTCC season". www.donington-park.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  12. ↑ Racing, Restart (22 September 2025). "Emotional First BTCC Win for Restart Racing at Silverstone". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  13. ↑ Racing, Restart (6 October 2025). "Double Title Glory for Restart Racing as Lloyd Clinches Independent Crown at Brands Hatch". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  14. ↑ Ashby-Brown, Chris (10 August 2025). "Fire destroys Power Maxed Racing headquarters". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  15. ↑ Ashby-Brown, Chris (8 January 2026). "Daniel Lloyd steps away from BTCC for 2026 season". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Dorlin returns to BTCC grid for 2026 with Restart Racing | Latest News | James Dorlin". jamesdorlin.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  17. ↑ Ashby-Brown, Chris (2 April 2026). "Restart Racing showcase new livery for 2026 season". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  18. ↑ Bashford, Josh (17 August 2026). "Restart Racing Confirms James Dorlin Departure". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  19. ↑ Bashford, Josh (17 August 2026). "Independent Champion Lloyd Returns to Restart Racing for Remainder of 2026 BTCC Season". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  20. ↑ Racing, Restart (31 July 2025). "Restart Racing Supports Development Driver Max Edmundson at Croft and Beyond". Restart Racing. Retrieved 9 September 2026.