Restart Racing has confirmed that it will field a new Honda Civic for Scott Sumpton in next year’s TCR Europe season, becoming the first entrant to confirm participation in the series.
Sumpton, 18, made his TCR début in 2021, racing a Hyundai i30 N TCR in the TCR UK series. Finishing his first season 21st overall in the standings, Sumpton switched to Restart Racing for 2022 and raced a Honda Civic FK7 to 12th in the drivers’ standings.
Sumpton’s best finish came in the penultimate meeting of the year at Donington Park, where the JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme member was fifth in race two.
The announcement also marks a progression for Restart Racing, which was founded for the start of the 2022 season. The team, headed up by Ben Taylor, went on to win the TCR UK drivers’ title in its maiden season with Chris Smiley.
Restart Racing has once previously competed in Europe when it ran a Honda for Smiley at the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games.
Sumpton will get his first competitive outing in the new car when he takes part in the final two rounds of TCR Spain in November and December this year.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in the TCR Europe series next season,” said Sumpton. “I’ve had a fantastic year this year with Restart Racing and JAS Motorsport, and racing in the highly-competitive European series is definitely the next step in my development.
“I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to race against some world-class drivers, and compete on some fantastic circuits, all while gathering more experience and fighting for podiums and race wins.
“I’ve had a terrific time in the TCR UK championship for the last two years and I’ve learned a lot.
“I also say goodbye to my FK7 Civic, which has been an amazing car, but I can’t wait to be racing the new FL5 Civic, which is now a fast and proven race-winner and should be the perfect car in which to make my European debut.”
Restart Racing is also considering running additional cars in TCR Europe, if drivers with the budget are interested in joining the team. The team is also planning to continue with its TCR UK programme next season.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity ahead to race in the TCR Europe series next year with Scott,” said Team Principal Ben Taylor. “Our TCR programme has been an exciting challenge for us, with winning the 2022 TCR UK championship in our first season a fantastic achievement.
“We followed that up with our development programme this year with Scott, working with him to become a regular front-runner in the series.
“We believe the TCR Europe series will provide an excellent opportunity for both Scott and us to grow as an operation. We’re also aiming for this to just be the start, with the plan to run more cars in the series and elsewhere next year.”
JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader Mads Fischer praised Sumpton’s progress within the company’s development programme.
“We’re very pleased to see Scott moving up to TCR Europe next year and moving up from a national programme to challenge himself at a continental level,” added Fischer.
“The JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme aims to give young drivers all the tools they need to become professional racers and Scott has made fantastic progress in his first year with the DDP in both his on and off-track performance.
“Together with Restart Racing, who not only won a major TCR title in their first year as a Civic Type R TCR customer team, but also gave the FL5 model its world debut this year, we are sure they have everything they need to put a strong campaign together.”