Restart Racing experienced a weekend of extremes at Oulton Park (21-22 June), delivering a team-best qualifying, a breakthrough podium, and a storming comeback drive — all ultimately cut short by mechanical issues and a dramatic crash. Despite the setbacks, the team battled through to maintain its position at the top of the Independent standings at the halfway stage of the season.
Saturday’s qualifying session got off to a flying start, with Chris Smiley producing a sensational lap to secure second on the grid. The result equalled his best-ever qualifying performance in the BTCC and marked Restart Racing’s highest starting position to date.
The car showed pace immediately, and the team delivered when it counted. Dan Lloyd also looked strong in Part 1, but a ride height infringement led to post-session exclusion — an unfortunate blow after one of his most promising starts to a race weekend this year.
Race one highlighted the team’s grit and determination. Smiley, after starting on the front row, dropped to fourth in the early stages but kept the pressure on and regained third position late in the race. The result secured Restart Racing’s first overall podium in the BTCC, along with another Independents’ class win — a major milestone in just the team’s second season.
Starting from the back of the grid, Lloyd delivered a remarkable comeback, gaining 12 places over 16 laps. Executing a series of brave and clinical overtakes, the #123 driver brought the car home in 12th.
With Smiley on the hard tyre in Race two, a difficult race was expected. Despite a good launch, the BTCC race winner quickly slipped down the order on the slow rubber. Lloyd once again made a rapid start and climbed into the top ten, but his race came to an abrupt end following a high-speed crash at Clay Hill. Fortunately, the car avoided major damage, allowing the team to repair it in time for Race three.
The final bout of the weekend began in unpredictable conditions following pre-race rain, prompting most teams to switch to wets. However, the track dried quickly and caught out several runners.
Smiley retired on the opening lap with a mechanical issue while Lloyd once again charged through the field, reaching 11th before a lock-up at the hairpin dropped him to the back.
Undeterred, he recovered to cross the line in 14th, which later became 13th following a post-race exclusion for another driver — rewarding him another Independents’ victory.
Despite the frustrations, Restart Racing came away from Oulton Park with a first overall podium, two Independents’ wins, and valuable points in the title fight. The team retains its position at the top of the Independent standings heading into the second half of the season, returning along with the rest of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship paddock at Croft (2/3 August) in under five weeks’ time.
Chris Smiley, #22 Restart Racing, said: “So, that’s Oulton Park done and dusted, it’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the season, time’s flown by. Today started well. I finished third in race one, the team’s first overall podium, and my first in a little while, so that was a really positive way to kick things off.
“In race two, we had to run the hard tyre because of the podium finish in race one, and it was just really tough to make it work. Pretty much everyone who ran the hard tyre struggled, apart from (Tom) Ingram, so it was one of those races where we just had to get through it.
“I was really looking forward to race three, we were back on the soft tyre, and there were a lot of hard tyre runners ahead of us, so I genuinely think we had a shot at getting back into the top five. But unfortunately, it started to rain, and we had an alternator issue on the car that put us out on the first lap.
“I’m just relieved the car isn’t damaged and we can reset with a clear focus for the second half of the season. The goal now is to keep pushing for the Independents’ title and, hopefully, chase down an overall race win too.”
Dan Lloyd, #123 Restart Racing, said: “It’s just been a mental day. We had really strong pace. Race one was mega, coming through to 12th, that’s the first time I’ve really done that kind of drive in touring cars, and it was a great feeling.
“In race two, the pace was good again, but I got caught up in an incident and ended up in a huge crash into the barriers, which I was absolutely devastated about. The relief came later when we found out the car was okay and there wasn’t too much damage, that was a massive weight off my shoulders.
“Then in race three, we started on wets from the very back of the grid and came through to 11th. I made a mistake locking up over the bump into the hairpin, which dropped me back to last, but I fought back again and even took the Independents’ win.
“So yeah, just an absolutely crazy day. I don’t really know what to think. I’m happy we’re in one piece, but it definitely could’ve been a hell of a lot better.”
