Chris Smiley signs with Tony Gilham Racing for 2016 BTCC

Chris Smiley has signed with Tony Gilham Racing for the 2016 British Touring Car Championship season.
“The BTCC has been a dream of mine for many years, right back to when I was in karting. It will be exciting to renew battle with some of my former rivals like Jack Goff and Tom Ingram – just like old days!” said Smiley.

The 23-year-old is going to drive a Toyota Avensis for the team and comes from a background of Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup in Germany and Mini Challenge UK where he claimed the 2013 JCW class title.

“Everyone who has come into contact with him knows he is a talent, and we are convinced he is more than ready to make his debut in what we regard as the world’s premier touring car championship. He is quick, dedicated and has a burning passion to succeed,” said Tony Gilham, team principal.

The Northern Irishman tested Jason Plato’s MG6 of Triple Eight Racing in 2013 as prize for winning the Mini Challenge and hopes to learn the Toyota Avensis of the team quickly.

“Whilst the NGTC cars aren’t a world away from the Minis or the Scirocco – they’re all turbocharged and front-wheel-drive – they are weighted very differently and the suspension behaves differently as they aren’t production cars, so they feel racier. I also have to learn about the tyres, because this will be the first time I’ve raced in a series with two different compounds. That all adds to the challenge, but I can’t wait to get going,” said Smiley.