Ruby Smith makes significant progress in maiden car racing season

Ruby Smith transitioned from karting to circuit racing in 2024, quickly adapting to the competitive Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup, securing four top-20 finishes, and showcasing significant progress and potential in the latter half of the season.

Photo credits: BC Media | @bc_media_essex

Ruby Smith enjoyed a positive first season of circuit racing in the Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship. The teenage driver made the step up from karting in 2024 and drove in the highly-competitive one-make series, achieving an overall championship finish of 24th despite missing two rounds of the campaign. Securing four top-20 results in a year which saw 41 drivers score championship points, Smith ended the year by racing confidently in the midfield.

Moving from karting into circuit racing for the 2024 season, Smith’s choice to enter the Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship was a smart one with the series going from strength-to-strength. Attracting multiple champions from a wide range of different series across Britain, the level of drivers was high and therefore Smith could learn from some of the most talented club racers in the country.

Ruby’s father, Sean, also competed in the series and he consistently challenged for Masters class victories showing the competitive spirit within the family. Therefore, Ruby was able to develop her skills in a positive environment while gaining knowledge with each and every weekend.

The 2024 Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship calendar saw 18 races take place over seven weekends, all in support of the TCR UK Championship. With other series such as the Milltek Sport Civic Cup also a permanent feature on this package, a clear path of development exists and is a further attraction to drivers in the championship.

In preparation for her debut season, Smith gained vital experience testing the car prior to the campaign and was often coached by British Touring Car Championship driver Jade Edwards. The Brands Hatch Indy circuit was the venue for the first round of the championship and Ruby was looking for a smooth introduction to circuit racing.

With just a single twenty-minute qualifying session followed by a pair of fifteen-minute races, Smith aimed to make progress despite the limited track time. A capacity grid of 35 cars took to the circuit for the season opener with Ruby qualifying in 32nd position on debut.

Photo credits: BRSCC

It was an event of progress for the young driver who finished 30th in race one, before taking the checkered flag in 26th position in race two, while improving on her best lap of the weekend by half a second. Smith was able to finish both races without incident, while also driving smartly as some of the faster cars made their way through in the closing stages of the races.

Snetterton hosted round two of the Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship and posed a further challenge for Smith being one of the longest laps of the year, a stark contrast to the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. Nonetheless, Ruby was able to take steps forward in qualifying to set the 28th fastest time prior to three races which took place in Norfolk.

In race one, Smith improved upon her best result from Brands Hatch by finishing in 25th position. Despite finishing four places lower in 29th in race two, Ruby was setting her fastest laps of the event to date while she also enjoyed some close battles with the drivers ahead. An unfortunate early-race retirement ended her weekend, however she had made good progress at Snetterton in just her second ever car racing event.

The third round of the championship took place at Oulton Park, however Ruby was forced to miss this event due to her prioritising her school exams and instead she returned for round four at Croft.

It was here that Smith took a significant step forward in performance which was a sign of things to come for the remainder of the season. Despite battling changeable conditions throughout the event, Ruby established herself as a consistent midfield contender while showing a newfound confidence.

Qualifying was held in wet conditions and Smith achieved her best starting position to date, setting the 18th fastest lap time. This speed continued into the races as she achieved her career best result in race one, taking the checkered flag in 19th position.

Ruby’s lap times were often on-par with those inside the top-10, with Smith setting the 12th fastest lap of the race. A second top-20 followed in race two as she left Croft with her largest haul of championship points in the Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship.

Photo credits: BC Media | @bc_media_essex

An expanded grid of drivers arrived at Silverstone for the fifth round of the championship as they tackled the high-speed National layout. Lap times were extremely close throughout the event with Ruby continuing to make progress. The young racer qualified in 23rd position, however she was just one second away from pole position.

Throughout the trio of races, Smith battled confidently in the midfield and was unfortunate not to add to her tally of top-20 results. After finishing race one in 21st position, her finish of 22nd in race two was not reflective of her strong performance.

Ruby was regularly lapping on pace with those inside the overall top-10, with her fastest lap just three-quarters of a second shy of the quickest lap set by the race winner. Leaving Silverstone with a 23rd place result in race three, Smith enjoyed a weekend of good progress as she developed her racecraft.

The final event of Ruby’s season came at the demanding Thruxton Circuit, a formidable challenge to most drivers let alone Smith in her rookie season of circuit racing. Nonetheless, she continued her excellent mid-season form and by setting the 22nd fastest time in qualifying. Her progress across the two races was also impressive, securing a pair of top-20 results in changeable conditions as she matched her career best finish of 19th in a wet race two.

Although Smith missed the final round of the season on the Silverstone International circuit, she still finished 24th in the overall Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship standings. Ruby was one of the outstanding novice drivers as she adapted superbly to both demanding circuits and challenging conditions.

Her performances in the latter half of the season highlighted her potential and she will be looking to continue her progress with a view to a full-season of racing in 2025.