Chris Smiley will compete in the Renault UK Clio Cup for the remainder of the 2016 season with JamSport Racing, making his debut this weekend at Snetterton.
The Northern Irishman joined the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for the first time this season, but has seen a difficult maiden campaign come to a premature end due to a shortfall in budget.
Smiley’s efforts in his Team HARD Toyota Avensis were plagued by unreliability, with a best finish of sixteenth coming at Thruxton in May.
The 24 year old has a successful track record in one-make tin-top competition, having won the 2013 MINI Challenge title and taken race victories in the Scirocco R Cup and VAG Trophy.
“It’s a shame, because this was always meant to be the start of a long-term plan in the BTCC, but it has not been a happy start to the season,” Smiley told Autosport, having got his first taste of Clio Cup machinery at Donington Park last week.
“I wanted to keep on racing, and doing it in the Renault UK Clio Cup is perfect because it keeps me on the radar of the touring car teams by being on the support package. I want to show that I am still capable of winning races, and I think I can do it in Clios.”
Smiley Will Race The Multi-Coloured Clio Initially Intended For Tom Grundy – Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
