Series returnee Mike Bushell says he is looking forward to “building a good relationship and seeing what the future brings” at Power Maxed Racing after a last minute deal was put together for Oulton Park.
Both Bushell and the PMR squad had their 2020 British Touring Car Championship plans curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but return to action in Cheshire this weekend as the team revealed it plans to field one car for different drivers throughout the remainder of the season.
Talking to ITV, Bushell described how the deal came together and spoke of his excitement for the future with the squad beyond the back-to-back weekends he is set to complete at Oulton Park and Knockhill.
“It was a bit last minute, to be fair! I got a text from Adam [Weaver] at Power Maxed Racing on Sunday night, he said ‘Can you give me a call?’
“I didn’t really think much of it and then kind of Tuesday, Wednesday it was ‘Right, we’re going racing!’
“It’s a nice surprise because yet again circumstances meant that I missed this season in full. But to have two race weekends now, I can give some valuable feedback on the car with my engineering experience and just try to do a good job!
“Power Maxed Racing have got a long term plan to work with the drivers they choose as such, I think they’ve got a few more lined up after me at Knockhill, but I’m going to stay on hand for engineering and driver coaching so we’ll build a good relationship and see what the future brings.”
In only his first session in the Vauxhall Astra, Bushell topped the times in a wet-to-dry opening practice session which saw him bolt on slick tyres in the closing minutes and top the session by 1.7 seconds.
He would ultimately qualify 12th for the opening race of the weekend, and is looking forward to shedding the 45kg of penalty ballast for a late entry this season.
“I love this track anyway, but I find the damp to be a good leveller, and I just threw caution to the wind and went for it in FP1, FP2 was good but I think I got the most out of that early on,” he explained.
“I kind of expected qualifying to be where we were, I really couldn’t get any more out of FP2.
“Regulations are regulations. I’m just keen to have a good clean race one and then I can chuck that in the bin!”
Bushell also discussed his health situation after falling ill with myocarditis, and was pleased to report he is “all good” after he endured tough times during the winter.
“I’ve got a clean MOT now which is good! That was a major knock and that was the second time I’ve had that, so it kind of makes you value every day you’ve got really when you’re laying there in intensive care. But it’s all good now.”
Bushell will contest his first British Touring Car Championship race this season in race one at Oulton Park later today at 12:20 BST.