First Response Finance to sponsor TCR champion Chris Smiley as he hopes to win second title

First Response Finance hopes to be the driving force behind Chris Smiley’s second TCR title after agreeing a sponsorship deal with the champion racing driver.

The vehicle finance company, with offices in Nottingham, Leigh and Glasgow, will support Northern Ireland-born Smiley throughout the 2023 TCR UK Touring Car Championship.

By sponsoring the racing driver, First Response Finance will offer crucial financial support to give Smiley the best possible chance of success throughout the 2023 TCR UK calendar, as well as increasing exposure for the brand.

The sponsorship will include brand visibility on Chris’s Restart Racing Honda Civic Type R, his race overalls, helmet and around the Restart Racing team garage with race venues including Snetterton, Croft, Oulton Park and the world-famous Silverstone.

Ben Garside, marketing manager at First Response Finance said: "As a business, we’ve never focused on large-scale sponsorships.

"However, entering a new financial year that happens to coincide with the new motor season has inspired us to explore the possibilities.

"Being title sponsor in Chris’s next journey will assist in our continued growth objectives, offering great additional opportunities to build our brand across the UK.

"In addition to this, we will hopefully help the current TCR UK Touring Car champion to retain his title.

"He’s a great guy, completely dedicated to the sport since his childhood. Chris has been a long-term partner of ours, who’s worked with us for many years through Eden Car Sales, so we want nothing more than for him to have a successful campaign."

The TCR concept was launched in 2014 to level-up touring car racing on a global scale. Having enjoyed much success over the past nine years, the series now takes place in more than 30 countries.

In 2022, TCR Racing experienced its most significant season yet with 20 cars appearing at every round and the grid peaking at 25 cars for three events.

Driving a Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8), Chris Smiley beat Isaac Smith to the crown.

Chris said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have First Response Finance as my 2023 title sponsor.

"We have worked together off track for a long time, and this is now the start of an amazing journey to work together on track! The support is invaluable and together with the latest Honda Civic Type R FL5 we are in a very strong position to start the season ahead."

The next TCR UK Touring Car Championship season is due to begin at Snetterton on April 8, and will conclude on October 22 at Brands Hatch.

Founded in 1998, First Response Finance is a leading vehicle finance company in the UK, with offices in Nottingham, Leigh, and Glasgow. With a strong team of over 300 employees, they believe everything starts with their own people, sharing the same values so they can deliver the best possible service to their customers.

First Response Finance offer Hire Purchase (HP) finance on three types of vehicles – cars, vans, and motorbikes – without charging customers any extra fees. Putting customers at the heart of everything they do, their main purpose is to provide great credit solutions for non-prime customers, while creating an extremely positive and trust-based working environment. The business' unique way of thinking and excellent customer service has helped them to win “Sub-prime Finance Provider of the Year” five years running and has seen them rated as the UK’s number one motor finance lender on Review Centre.

Find out more about Chris Smiley by visiting chrissmiley.co.uk, and learn about First Response Finance via firstresponsefinance.co.uk