Power Maxed Racing heads to the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit for this weekend’s British Touring Car Championship season finale targeting ‘the only thing that has alluded us so far – a race win’.
The Evesham-based team has already surpassed its points tally from last year, and with a round to spare has secured the Independent Drivers’ title with Árón Taylor-Smith, the Jack Sears’ Trophy with Mikey Doble and the Independent Teams’ title.
The season so far has also seen plenty of silverware for the team, including two outright podiums for Taylor-Smith and one for Doble.
At Silverstone last time out, Taylor-Smith and Doble again continued to demonstrate impressive outright pace, with Taylor-Smith briefly securing an outright pole position in qualifying, before losing the pole for failing post-session ride height checks.
Earlier in the year, Doble almost secured a maiden victory in the series, in the same race in which the team secured its first-ever double podium.
With that in mind, and all the titles it can possible secure this year already wrapped up, Team Principal Adam Weaver says the team is gunning for a win at Brands this weekend.
“It’s been a brilliant year for the whole team and the focus is very much on finishing it off at Brands Hatch with the only thing that has alluded us so far – a race win,” said Weaver.
“Whilst we don’t need it to celebrate what has been a great season, we want it badly and it would be the cherry on the cake.
“The pressure is off Árón and Mikey so we’ll be giving it everything across the final three races of the season.
“I know that there are drivers that will be going for the Drivers’ Championship but they can still achieve that by finishing second to us.
“We’re highly motivated and feel more than ready for one last big push.”
Taylor-Smith won his first BTCC race on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in 2012, and is keen to return to the podium at the circuit for the first time since 2015.
“Going into the final race meeting of the season is always special but this time around it feels even more significant – especially given what we as a team have achieved winning three championship titles,” said the Irishman.
“The Grand Prix circuit is a real favourite of mine and it holds fond memories as it was there, more than a decade ago, that I won my first BTCC race. Since then I’ve always gone well and have had podiums and other top results.
“I feel like we’ve taken a real step forward with the car from last year so I’m excited to see what we can achieve.
“It would be great to sign off the season with a proper result in front of what is going to be a huge crowd!”
Team Manager Martin Broadhurst believes that the team’s Vauxhall Astra is now as good as the car has ever been since it first appeared in 2017.
“Over the course of the year we’ve really progressed the car and I’d go as far as saying the Vauxhall is as good as it has ever been,” added Broadhurst. “That bodes well going to Brands Hatch as its a circuit that has always been well-suited to the Astra.
“Everyone is determined to end the year on an even bigger high and it’ll be great to watch Árón and Mikey be able to race without any pressure.
“If we can get back on that podium – before the prize-giving presentation – that would be brilliant.”
Doble is looking forward to racing with the pressure off to conclude his second season in the BTCC.
“To be going to Brands Hatch knowing that I’ve got the Jack Sears Trophy wrapped up is a great feeling,” said Doble. “It almost feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders as it’s been my sole focus all year.
“It’s very rare that you have the opportunity to go out and compete at this level for the pure enjoyment of driving but all of our hard work throughout the season means that we can do just that this weekend.
“The car should be strong, especially around the Grand Prix section, so I’m confident that we can qualify on the first few rows and then hopefully be in the mix for some podiums.
“It’s going to be a weekend to remember that’s for sure.”