The Restart Racing driver has already conceded defeat in his quest to make it back-to-back titles having recorded two DNFs at last month’s triple-header at Knock♛hill circuit in Sco﷽tland last month. 

Smiley finished 🌄the opening race down in ninth position before suspension failure on his Japanese hatch on the following day’s opening 25-minute sprint denied him a possible first win of the year. Moments before the setback he had moved past Matthew Wilson’s Cupra Leon and into the lead. 

The final race of a forgettable weekend also ended in disaster for the Northern Irཧishman as his JAS Motorsport-developed car developed technical issues which forced him 🤡back to the garage. 

Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Silverstone’s National circuit for rounds 10 and 11 – the first time the competition has visited it since 2020 – Smiley is currently ninth in the standings on🔥 109 points, 164 behind current leader Carl Boardley, who is 36 clear of second-placed rival Bruce Winfield. 

“We have had some time to dig into the troubles of the last couple of rounds and we are aiming to try some✨ new things out this weekend at Silverstone,” the 31-year-old explained to mahbx.com. 

“Silverstone is obviously a very different circu🐈it to any of the other circuits on the calendar this year. We know it is a short, power circuit – so it will help that we are light. However, it is not necessarily a strong circuit for the Honda Civic Type R – so we will just have to see how we go. 

“Our 𒁃plan for these last🐼 few races is just to try new things and try and get some good results to end the year on a high. There is nothing to lose now except time to develop the car and be ready for 2024,” he added. 

Free Practice is due to take💟 place on Saturday from 9.25am followed by qualifying at 11.50am to help determine the look of the grid for Sunday’s opening 25-minute sprint (1.35pﷺm). It will be followed by race two at 4.25pm. 

Following Silverstone, teams will visit Donington Park National (September9-10) and Brands Hatch Indy (Octob🌳er 21-22) respectively.