Former British Touring Car Championship podium-finisher Jeff Smith will make a return to Renault Clio racing this weekend in the Michelin Clio Cup Series at Oulton Park.
Smith competed in the Renault UK Clio Cup prior to joining the BTCC – in which he competed for three years with Eurotech/Pirtek Racing, taking a podium finish apiece in 2012 and 2013, before leaving at the end of last season.
During his time in the Clio Cup, the 48 year old competed in 52 races with Team Pyro, taking five top six finishes in his final season in 2010, with a best finish of fourth.
Smith will reunite with Pyro for his Clio return this weekend, which is only a one-off appearance at the moment as he targets a return to the BTCC in the near future.
“This is a one off at the minute,” said Smith. “I want to get back in the swing of things, there’s no space on the touring car [BTCC] grid at the minute so there’s no better place to be than racing a Clio – it’s the next best thing.
“Being a touring car driver, I ought to be trying to win at the weekend but it really isn’t that easy in a one-make series likes Clios. People don’t realise that, there aren’t even single tenths of a second in it, but I’m hoping to be at the sharp end.”
