After a single season in MSA Formula, Josh Smith is returning to karting this season after being unsuccessful in his attempts to secure to the budget required to continue in car-racing.
Smith entered the BTCC support championship last season with backing from the Racing Steps Foundation, taking up a plum seat with single-seater powerhouses Fortec Motorsport.
The 16 year old enjoyed a breakthrough race win at Croft in June, with nine other top ten finishes taking him to thirteen in the final standings.
Unable to return to the grid this year, Smith has instead elected to enter the Formula Kart Stars series as a privateer entrant with his father.
Smith has his sights on a return to car-racing though, with the 2016 FKS champion receiving a fully-funded drive in the 2017 MSA Formula series with Fortec.
“It wasn’t like I wanted to come back to karting,” Smith explained to Motorsport News.
“I would have loved to have stayed in cars but budget doesn’t allow it so this is a great opportunity for me to get back into cars.
“I don’t think it’s a step down. I think it’s a step back to go ten steps forward.”