| Chris Swanwick | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 22 October 1993 Nottingham (England) |
| 2012 British Touring Car Championship | |
| Debut season | 2011 |
| Current team | Rob Austin Racing |
| Car no. | 31 |
| Former teams | Team Pryo Team Parker Racing Tollbar Racing ELK Racing Strawberry Racing |
| Starts | 6 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 17 in 2011 |
| Previous series | |
| 2011 2009-2010 2007-2008 |
Renault Clio Cup 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship KF3 British Super One Championship |
| Awards | |
| 2010 | Hard Charger Trophy |
Chris Swanwick (born 22 October 1993) is a British racing car driver currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for Rob Austin Racing.[1] Swanwick made his BTCC début on 2 October 2011 at Brands Hatch.[2] Swanwick currently competes in a NGTC spec Audi A4.
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Swanwick was a relative late starter to karting, starting in 2003 at the age of 9 in Formula cadets where he did his novice plates. He quickly progressed and by the end of the next year won the Comer cadets, North Regional Final. Not being happy to stay in cadets for another year, Swanwick decided to move up to Mini Max for the 2005 season, and by the end of the year was a regular on the podium at Wombwell. He could have stopped in mini Max for another couple of years, but having the need for speed, Swanwick decided he wanted to drive JICAs. In the middle of 2006, he had a time at Strawberry Racing, but damaged his rib badly and did not race again until the second half of the year
Swanwick tested and signed for Tollbar Racing in January 2009. He passed is ARDS test in February to gain his racing licence. Swanwick competed in the Ginetta Junior Championship for Tollbar Racing where he finished with 8 podiums and completed the season in 7th.[3]
Swanwick competed for half a year in the Ginetta Junior Championship for Team Parker Racing where he finished with 2 podiums (Thruxton Round 1 and Snetterton Round 12). He finished the season in 14th. Swanwicks aggressive driving style saw him disqualified in Round 14 of the championship at Silverstone after a incident that resulted in 3 cars retiring from the race. Team Pryo saw potential in Swanwick and signed him up for the Renault Clio Cup 2011.[4][5]
Swanwick competed in Renault Clio Cup 2011 for Team Pryo. Swanwick found the front wheel drive Clio more of a challenge than the rear wheel Ginetta G20. Despite this, Swanwick's aggressive driving style saw him take 7th and 8th place twice over the season. Rob Austin again saw Swanwick's potential and signed him up as the team's junior driver after testing at Pembrey in July 2011.[6]
Swanwick dubbed "The first of the next generation drivers",[7] Has been testing a Second NGTC Spec Audi A4 for Rob Austin Racing and made his BTCC début on 2 October 2011 at Brands Hatch. He is also due to compete in the BTCC final rounds at Silverstone on 17 October 2011.
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Position | Points | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Rob Austin Racing | Audi A4 | BHI |
DON |
THR |
OUL |
CRO |
SNE |
KNO |
ROC |
BHGP |
SIL |
31† | 0† | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 17 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 18 | Ret | |||||||||||||||||||||
† Season in progress
Swanwick, was born in Nottingham, England and attended Dagfa House School. Swanwick lives in Moorgreen near Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. He attended Dagfa House School between ages of 11 and 16, Dagfa school allows flexible school hours which suited Swanwicks race schedule. Swanwick currently works as a diamond driller for his father's company East Midlands Diamond Drilling (EMDD). EMDD is also one of his main sponsors.
Swanwick is 6ft3 and has gained the nickname Sonic Swanwick due to his spiky hair.