Northern Irish racer Chris Smiley surprised the British Touring Car Championship elite by setting the fastest time in free practice at Brands Hatch. His team, Restart Racing, only received their new Hyundai i30 N Fastbacks shortly before the season began but showed strong performance in just their second weekend of competition. Smiley topped the times, closely followed by Adam Morgan in another Hyundai, with Hyundais dominating the top nine. The use of soft Goodyear tires added an element of strategy, with most teams trying out the soft compound in preparation for qualifying. The new track surface at Brands Hatch presented challenges, with drivers experiencing sliding and sudden grip changes on certain parts of the circuit. Despite his success in practice, Smiley remained focused on continually improving and not getting carried away too early in the weekend. Various drivers, including Aiden Moffat, Tom Ingram, and Ash Sutton, showed competitive pace, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session and races ahead.
Related posts
-
Revving Up for the Future: A Glimpse into the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test
Pictures from the opening day of the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown test. -
The Champion’s Dilemma: Lewis Hamilton’s Decision on Retirement Sends Shockwaves Through F1
Lewis Hamilton 'will stay' as F1 champion discusses retirement -
The Rise of Lando Norris: Unleashing the Power of McLaren
First day, and Lando Norris is smiling. Even though it's early days, that can only be... -
Revving up for Redemption: Audi’s Journey from Troubled Debut to F1 Triumph
The doomsday scenario that had hung over Audi's F1 test debut has been avoided. But it... -
Davey Todd Sets Sights on 2026 Glory with Singular Focus on Improvement
Isle of Man TT winner aiming to improve "all areas” in 2026, prioritises one aspect -
Hamilton Sets Sights on Ferrari Victory: A Racing Legend’s Next Challenge
Lewis Hamilton is eager to get more laps under his belt as he prepares for the...
