Photo: TCR UK

Scott Sumpton completes Restart Racing line-up

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Scott Sumpton is the first debutant confirmed for the 2024 BTCC season after Restart Racing revealed that the teenager will once again partner Chris Smiley.

Sumpton joined the team last season for his second year in the TCR UK Championship, finishing twelfth in the standings at the wheel of a Honda Civic.

The 19-year-old was set to compete in TCR Europe this year but will now line up alongside Smiley in Restart’s second Cupra Leon, with the team having acquired two cars and TOCA BTCC Licences following the demise of Team HARD.

“I’m looking forward to this season more than anything,” he said. “To race in the BTCC is almost every UK driver’s dream, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to develop as a driver and get to benchmark myself against some of the best drivers in motorsport.

“I’m also really happy to be racing again with Restart Racing. I joined this team last year and instantly felt at home. They’ve helped me so much to improve as a racing driver, and our results at the end of the year are a testament to the work we’ve done together. To carry that on into the BTCC is the natural next step.

“Of course I’m under no illusions, as the BTCC is an incredibly competitive championship. My goal for this year is to carry on learning, hopefully to fight for points in the races, and also contend for the Jack Sears Trophy and take some wins in that class.”

Team principal Ben Taylor said he was pleased to confirm Sumpton in the second car for Restart’s BTCC debut.

“We’re really happy to have Scott onboard for a second season with us, and he’s a logical choice to bring both consistency as well as exciting new and young talent with us as we join the BTCC,” he said.

“Scott’s made incredible progress in the last year, and we’re really excited to see what he can do in the BTCC in our Cupra Leon. He also works really well with Chris Smiley, who’s a fantastic mentor as well as a driver.

“It’s great for us as a team to have our programme in-place so early on, so we can spend the next three months getting ready for the start of the season, and to compete against the already-established competition. This year is going to be an exciting challenge, and one we’re relishing as a young operation.”