It took until the penultimate race of the year, but in the end Andrew Watson ticked ‘so many boxes’ to bring home the Jack Sears Trophy for Power Maxed Racing.
After two overall podiums in his debut season, Watson came away from Brands Hatch with the Jack Sears Trophy – a classification open to drivers who at the start of the season had yet to score an outright podium in the BTCC.
Coming away with plenty of silverware in his first season Watson is sure it has “been a great rookie season”.
“It’s been a great year – a really great year,” Watson told TouringCars.Net. “So many boxes ticked, delighted. But it’s all the hard work that the team have put in. You can’t get the results without a great team behind you. It sounds corny, but it’s true.
“So obviously the overall podiums, the pace that we’ve showed now to pick up this big trophy is incredible. It’s been a great rookie season.”
After Power Maxed Racing have had a massive upturn in form this season all eyes turn to 2024. Going from 53 points in 2022 the team racked up 342 points in 2023. Even with the steep curve Watson has a level head on how to push in the future.
“We’ve just got to keep building. You know, there’s been times we’ve been really strong, but there’s times we’ve struggled. So we’ve got to improve those weaknesses. Then, you know, we can really fight at the sharp end all the time.
“If we can improve a few factors on the car, then yeah, we’re right in the mix. So I think we’ve got to take stock, be honest where we’re weak and where we’re strong and really try and improve that.
“The morale in the team is good, and that really makes a huge difference. Because that’s what motivates the guys day in and day out, to push that extra inch. That’s what it takes in this championship, those little details. The morale is certainly key.”