Power Maxed Racing secures Vauxhall partnership for 2017

Automotive Brands, the owners of Power Maxed Racing, have announced a commercial partnership with Vauxhall Motors that will see the Astra return to the British Touring Car Championship grid in 2017 as a manufacturer entry.

Power Maxed Racing have been competing in the BTCC since the 2015 season, during which time the young team have been regular top ten finishers, including taking a podium with Dave Newsham back in their maiden season.

For 2017 the ambitious team will ditch their brace of Chevrolet Cruze racers in favour of Vauxhall machinery.

The partnership marks the return of Vauxhall in an official capacity for the first time since the marque withdrew at the end of the 2009 season, following a long association with Triple Eight Racing.

“We are incredibly pleased and proud to be working with Vauxhall and to be the team that brings this iconic and highly successful brand back to the BTCC,” said Adam Weaver, Automotive Brands Managing Director and Power Maxed Racing Team Principal.

“The all new Astra is a fantastic car and it is no surprise that it was voted 2016 European Car of the Year – it will make a show-stopping BTCC challenger.”

The team will run two of the new Astra cars next year, although drivers have yet to be confirmed. A ‘talented and exciting driver line-up’ will be revealed in the near future.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow welcomed the move, as it brings back Vauxhall after a seven-year hiatus.

“It is fantastic to be welcoming Vauxhall back to the BTCC as a manufacturer entry,” said Gow. “Its history and pedigree is there for all to see and I have no doubt that the highly professional and experienced team at Power Maxed Racing will be great partners.”

The team have already taken delivery of the shells and are working on building the cars up ahead of pre-season testing.