Smiley has been part of the Excelr8 line-up since the Suffolk squad’s switch to the Hyundai i30 N in 2020, and had been in contention to remain part of its four-car line-up this year.
Butel scored three points finishes with Excelr8 in his BTCC sophomore season in 2021, and the 25-year-old Jerseyman has completed a late deal to stay on at the team, alongside Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton and Dan Lloyd.
Smiley’s long-time friend and helper Bert Taylor, who founded the BTC squad with which the Northern Irishman scored his sole BTCC race victory in 2018, has been attempting to re-enter the series with Smiley as driver under the banner of Restart Racing.
Taylor relinquished control of BTC to current owner Steve Dudman, and then split with the team at the end of the 2020 season.
But attempts to acquire a TOCA TBL entrants’ licence did not reach fruition, despite it being likely that at least one of the three loaned by TOCA for the 2022 campaign will not be used.
Taylor is now hoping to…
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