The Restart Racing driver has a♒lready conceded defeat in his quest to ⛎make it back-to-back titles having recorded two DNFs at last month’s triple-header at Knockhill circuit in Scotland last month. 

Smiley finished the opening race down in ninth position before suspension f💧ailure 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 Mat𝐆thew Wilson’s Cupra Leon and into the lead. 

The final race of a for👍gettable weekend also ended in disaster for the Northern 🦩Irishman 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 – t𝔍he 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-place🎀d rival Bruce Winfield. 

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

“Silverstone is obviously a very different circuit 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 neces𝐆sarily a strong circuit for the Honda Civic Type R – so we will just have to see how we go. 

“Our plan for these last few races is just to try new things and try and get some goo🍒d 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.&ﷺnbsp;

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 (1.35pm). It will be followed by race two at 4.25pm. 

Following Silverstone, t♚eams will visit Donington Park National (September9-10) and Brands Hatch Indy (October 21-22) respectively.