Power Maxed Racing enters Brad Philpot for season finale

Power Maxed Racing has confirmed that VLN class champion Brad Philpot will race the team’s Vauxhall Astra in the season finale of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch next month.

Philpot has been a regular competitor in the endurance series held on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, known as the Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring (or VLN for short).

The 34-year-old won the 2018 and 2019 SP2T class of the VLN at the wheel of a Peugeot 308 Racing Cup car, picking up 11 class victories over two years.

Prior to that, Philpot began his touring car career in 2013 when he entered Peugeot’s talent search for international drivers to race the then-new 208 in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Philpot made his VLN début in 2013, continuing in the series until 2019 when he took the second of his two class victories.

The Bedfordshire-based racer also took part in the 2015 Race of Champions, having won the ROC Factor Competition and beating Formula 1 drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button in the Celebrity Skills Challenge.

Philpot also took part in the 2016 Silverstone 24 Hours, racing a Peugeot 208 for Team Altran Peugeot, where he took victory.

“I’ve had my sights set on BTCC for a long time and I’m delighted to be making my debut with such a well-respected and successful team as PMR,” said Philpot, who tested one of the team’s Astras in October.

“It’s great to be racing back in the UK at Brands Hatch for the season finale, and I’m confident we can deliver a strong performance to round off the year on a high.

“I’d like to thank Adam Weaver for this exciting opportunity, as well as my personal sponsors for their ongoing support.”

Adam Weaver, Team Principal of PMR, believes that Philpot’s extensive and successful racing history will prepare him well for adapting to the BTCC.

“Brad certainly has the pedigree necessary to challenge the BTCC regulars once he gets some experience under his belt and has a number of front-wheel-drive titles to his name,” added Weaver.

“We’ve been limited by the amount of testing he’s been able to cover in the Astra, but we know the car’s fast and has given everyone who’s driven it this year the opportunity to push forward in what’s known to be one of the toughest championships in the world.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do at Brands.”