The Smart Drive Podcast

What do you get when EV nerdery, dodgy auto-park confidence, and marital car vetoes collide?Rivian R2 chat: why its software architecture is so intriguing (and why VW buying in says a lot)Auto-park bravery vs real-world reality — including the classic “parked perfectly… can’t get out” moment“Divorce cars”, weird instructor motors, and a surprisingly thoughtful detour into deafness, BSL and driving adjustmentsIt’s part EV industry insight, part pub banter, and part ‘how did we end up here?’Subscribe, share, and send us your best car-tech fail or forbidden car purchase story.Our new website: https://www.thesmartdrivepodcast.co.ukOur new email address: hello@thesmartdrivepodcast.co.ukJacob Ashcroft summary:(transcript from the Ultimate Karting Championship annual Awards 2025)What can you say about this driver that hasn't already been said?His record of wins and podiums this season is unsurpassed. He was only outside of the top three on one occasion across every heat or final that he started in.And he took an incredible 18 wins out of the 24 scoring races, and he won four out of the six rounds.Now in Junior Rotax, he continues to go from strength to strength. He is not only the European Champion, but also the British Champion, the BNL Champion, and the UKC Champion. And that's before we mention the World Championship title from 2024.His incredible performance at the grand finals in December this year, just missing out on retaining that title in what was a frantic, hard-fought final. He brought home the Vice-Champion trophy, though, after starting on pole. You can't do much more.He is now for the third time a UKC Champion as well, having won previous titles in 2021 for IAME Cadet, 2023 for Mini Inter, and now the 2025 for Junior Rotax.the one, the only, Jacob Ashcroft.https://www.instagram.com/jacobashcroftracingFor Corporate sponsorship, contact the team directly at jacob@jacobashcroft.com or drop us a line here at the Smart Drive PodcastThis isn't just about a logo on a wing. If you partner with Jacob and his team at Elite Motorsport, you’re getting proper business activation. We're talking VIP hospitality in the paddock to blow your clients' minds, and actual track days where your team can trade the office chair for a passenger seat in a race car. It’s high-speed branding with real-world ROI.For Individuals looking to get involved: Join Club 46 at £250 for the 2026 season. email club46@jacobashcroft.comWhat You Get as a Club 46 MemberYour Name on the CarYour name is placed on Jacob’s Ginetta Junior race carPositioned on the rear spoiler, visible all seasonPremium placements available on the spoiler end plates for even better visibility are available (enquire for prices)This isn’t a sticker that disappears — it’s on the car for every race weekend in 2026.Real Access & ExperiencesBefore every race weekend, one Club 46 member will be drawn to receive:Two race ticketsFull Ginetta VIP hospitalityBreakfast, lunch & drinks throughout the dayComfortable seating and live race coverageA tour of the garage with Jacob and the teamYou’ll see the cars up close, feel the atmosphere, and be part of the weekend — not just a spectator.Ashley's Marathon fundraisinghttps://www.justgiving.com/page/ashley-nealThe James Bulger Memorial Trust offers a holiday home for FREE holidays/respite breaks for a child and their family who have gone through one or more of the following, Bereavement, Bullying, Victim/Hate crime, Care for a parent or sibling, Have done a good deed in their school or local community.

“Two grown men swap seats in a Focus ST and immediately remember why manuals are both brilliant and mildly exhausting.” • Focus ST first impressions: sharp steering, short gears, rev-matching modes and UK-road “jitter” in Sport • The spicy debate: should you flash before an overtake — helpful heads-up or unnecessary aggro? (Roadcraft gets name-checked) • EV chat: pence-per-mile “road tax”, where fuel duty’s gone, and why it should be fair across all vehicles If you’ve got strong feelings on overtakes, manuals, or EV costs, send us your stories — and hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.The article on Car Sizes:https://medium.com/@sdh.kingfieldheath/fords-family-car-grew-26-british-car-parks-didn-t-1d8e6d8f4acf

Christmas jumpers on, windows cracked, and one mildly existential crisis about being older than TV legends — it’s festive motoring chaos with Simon and Ashley. • The oddly brilliant “top car gifts” list: dash cams, smart tyre inflators, OBD2 scanners and other stuff you’ll actually use • Track-day tales: a 1969 Dodge Charger experience and a torrentially wet airfield session that taught real skid control (and humbled a would-be doughnut hero) • EV reality check: portable jump starters, 12V battery dramas, and why modern cars hide your phone like it’s playing hide-and-seek Subscribe, share, and send us your best (or worst) Christmas car stories — we’ll read them out and judge you politely.Why not spread a little Christmas cheer?Support our chosen charities:Carla Lane Animals in Need is a long-established animal rescue dedicated to saving, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs, cats and other animals who have nowhere else to turn, offering lifelong care and support until they find loving homes. Their compassionate no-kill approach and community focus mean every donation directly improves the lives of vulnerable animals and helps promote responsible pet ownership in and around Liverpool. https://carlalaneanimalsinneed.co.uk/donate/ FareShare tackles two of the UK’s biggest challenges — hunger and food waste — by rescuing good quality surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away and redistributing it through thousands of local charities and community groups across the country. Their work not only helps provide millions of nutritious meals for people facing food insecurity each year, but also delivers significant social and environmental value by reducing waste and strengthening communities in every region of the UK.https://fareshare.givingpage.org/warmthKeswick Mountain Rescue Team is a volunteer-run charity that provides a vital 24/7 search and rescue service across the Lake District’s fells, responding to call-outs in all weathers to save lives and assist people in distress. Their highly trained volunteers give up their time, skills and often personal equipment to help walkers, climbers and visitors — and every donation directly helps keep this essential, life-saving service running.https://keswickmrt.org.uk/donate/

What do Japan’s bonkers driving exams, megawatt EV charging, and black-ice panic all have in common?Japan’s notoriously tough driving test and why precision doesn’t always equal preparedness1-megawatt EV charging, dual-gun chaos, and what it means for real-world range in 6 minutes flatWinter driving tips: ABS myths, launch control in the rain, and the smug joy of pre-conditioning your EVA mix of insight, geekery and thinly-veiled smuggery. Subscribe, share, and send us your most outrageous winter driving tale — the colder and dafter the better.Simon's Charge-rate Spreadsheet:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kXPTm198x9vg1bcX6t44Vw0ZR5gNSg_4WyIX1rgKlmo/edit?usp=sharingIncluding a new tab for BYD 1MWAn example of the Japanese Driving test:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CySM-_HWKlo&t

In this live-in-car episode (yes, we recorded in the same vehicle), Simon & Ashley navigate real-life motoring madness: • A dodgy Volvo manoeuvre sparks chaos in the car park • Can you actually pay for a latte with your phone in a drive-through? • The 600 kW charging cable existential crisis and hot takes on adaptive cruise control Grab your favourite drink and join us for a laugh-packed ride through motoring tech, culture and real-world driving, including the immortal line: “Don’t crash into Simon’s car.”. Subscribe & leave a review — crash-free is the goal.Simon's Charge-rate Spreadsheet:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kXPTm198x9vg1bcX6t44Vw0ZR5gNSg_4WyIX1rgKlmo/edit?usp=sharingSimon's article on EV Economics:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ev-economics-when-longer-battery-life-meets-cleaner-grid-houghton-cyrbeAshley driving with Courtenayhttps://youtu.be/3g6PRDafB2E?si=Kp3Yv7Mh7iMqkJhK

In Episode 6, Simon & Ashley pull up to the roadside with serious and silly topics: • How to spot car-report scams and protect yourself when selling used • A comparison of French smooth roads vs UK squeaky ones — what the driving experience teaches us • Speed-limit debate: should the rules change and what it means for drivers With practical advice, humour and real talk on motoring-culture, this episode is a must-listen. Top Gear meets Watchdog… but with extra spreadsheets.Subscribe and share your own suspect car-report story. References in this Episode:USA 2005 Tour DVDhttps://youtu.be/56NB_cE9zPc?si=K1JPXRPLjsbMxrYX11 Hours in 11 Minutes Driving back from Francehttps://youtu.be/9K7yw1K_ZWg?si=MPcMKlyh3uT3eAf_Battery recyclinghttps://www.rsbruce.com/www.rsbruce.com/battery-recyclingNissan 2nd life batteryhttps://www.nissan-global.com/EN/STORIES/RELEASES/second-life-leaf-batteries/

In Episode 4 we go deep into mechanical mayhem and driving evolution: • Decades of dodgy cars and stories of the worst failures (yes, including super-glue incidents) • Can you really learn to drive from YouTube? We debate it • Manual vs automatic: Which is right for you now? If you love car culture, driving tech and the unexpected — join us for 61 minutes of fun and insight. Subscribe and tell us your worst car-fail story.

Simon & Ashley hit the streets and charging points in Episode 3: • Hot-hatch heritage meets EV future — can both exist? • Insight on what it takes to be ‘EV-ready’ and whether you’re already there • Driving disasters, insurance oddities, quirky Euro driving-test tales and more Whether you’re a petrolhead, EV adopter or somewhere in between — this episode’s for you. Subscribe and drop us your driving-style confessions.