The agreement ensures the Irishman will line up once more on the grid in the UK’s premier touring car category in 2024 and beyond, cementing the 33-year-old’s status as one of the series’ leading lights for the coming years.
It also provides crucial continuity between team, driver and car as the Bidford-on-Avon team continue to push for a return to championship contention in the future, having widely impressed in their first campaign together in 2023.
Starting from “ground zero”, with minimal pre-season testing, Taylor-Smith went on to achieve a first outright BTCC podium in seven years at Donington GP, then repeated the feat by coming within a whisker of victory at Silverstone a fortnight later.
In a silverware-laden season for the Dubliner, Taylor-Smith also added four Independent class victories to a trophy cabinet that already includes four outright race wins and, now, 20 podium finishes since making his debut back in 2011.
His efforts also went a long way towards the team securing second in the Independent Teams’ standings, and Taylor-Smith provided a vital reference point to his two Rookie team-mates, Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble, as they clashed for the coveted Jack Sears Trophy honours.
The past nine months have certainly marked something of a renaissance for Taylor-Smith’s touring car career, and the focus has already shifted towards making 2024 an even bigger step towards the ultimate goal of championship glory.
“I’m so excited to confirm an extension to my partnership with CarStore Power Maxed Racing,” said Taylor-Smith on the news.
“It sounds terribly cliché, but I really do feel like I’ve found a home within the team. I’ve been in the paddock for ten years now, and I’ve spent much of that feeling like I was looking for a long-term home. I’ve found that now.
“Every successful driver-team combination on the BTCC grid has a high level of consistency to it; whether that’s drivers with engineers, staying in the same car, building a team around you. Overnight success doesn’t happen here, so if you want to be competitive, you need to find somewhere to create that environment around you.
“We’ve had such an amazing year at CarStore Power Maxed Racing and achieved almost every major objective we set ourselves. But – and this is the key bit – we did that with minimal testing, and if you look at our results, it’s quite clear it took me a few rounds to naturally ‘bed in’ and get to grips with the car, and where we needed to develop the package.
“So, I’m incredibly optimistic about what we can achieve with an extra four months versus last season to prepare. People talk about this being one of the oldest cars on the grid, but I’ve been around a bit and I can say confidently – it still has room to grow.
“I hope with the benefit of a proper winter programme and the longer-term vision that this deal gives us, we can begin to unlock that. I’m hugely grateful to Adam, Martin and everyone at the team for their backing, and to my fantastic partner network who continue to allow me to go racing.”
Team Principal Adam Weaver also underlined his delight at securing Taylor-Smith’s services for an additional two years.
“It’s fantastic to have a driver of Aron’s calibre commit his future to CarStore Power Maxed Racing,” says Weaver.
“It really demonstrates the ‘buy in’ at all levels of this project, be that drivers, team members, partners. Everybody is determined to return this team to the front of the grid, and announcements like this are important milestones on that journey.
“I can’t wait to see what Aron and the team can achieve with a proper winter to test and work through the car’s weaknesses. This season was fantastic, but it only scratched the surface of what is possible.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team arrived at Brands Hatch with the formbook on their side, having scored outright podium finishes and challenged at the very front at three of the previous four race meetings.
With Watson and team-mate Mikey Doble also comfortably clear in the race for the Jack Sears honours, the stage was set for an inter-team battle to claim the coveted prize aimed at unearthing the next generation of BTCC stars.
Qualifying swung the momentum in Doble’s favour as he looked to reduce Watson’s 18-point lead heading into the weekend, with the Kent racer turning in another great performance on Saturday afternoon to put his Vauxhall Astra ninth on the grid.
Watson kept stride with his championship rival to claim P13, with Aron Taylor-Smith – undoubtedly the star of Silverstone a fortnight prior – ensuring all three cars would start in points-paying positions with P15.
In the opening race, however, the race for the title took another twist. After holding his own against a host of the championship’s leading names, and gaining a spot to eighth, Doble was shovelled off the road at Stirlings by another competitor, leaving him to impact the barriers head-on, and ending his race.
More so than the result, the crash also denied the team – and the fans – the chance to watch Doble and Watson battle it out over the remaining two races.
In Doble’s absence, Taylor-Smith and Watson banked solid points for the team in P11 and P14 respectively, with the latter now just needing to finish the second race to wrap up the honours.
The UK’s premier touring car category is famed for its interpretation of a ‘non-contact’ sport, and from the get-go in race two, Watson took no risks with the opportunity to seal the title on the line. Doble, however, went on the offensive, and climbed superbly through the order.
Gaining ten spots, the 24-year-old took the chequered flag put in a valiant effort to take P16 at the flag. Two places behind, however, was Watson, and he crossed the line to wrap up a record-breaking third title for the team and spark jubilant scenes in the garage and on the pit wall.
The result now moves the team clear as the most successful in the competition’s history, cementing PMR’s track record as a proving ground for the tin-top stars of the future.
Doble, however, would have the final word in a stellar season that has marked a real return to form for the team, and battled forward to score points in P14 in the finale. Watson started and finished P18, with Taylor-Smith P21, having had to retire earlier from the second contest with a puncture.
CarStore Power Maxed Racing also notably finished as runners-up in the Independent Teams Championship, with Taylor-Smith, Watson and Doble ending the campaign second, fourth and sixth respectively among the Independent Drivers.
The team will now switch focus to its winter testing programme, before reconvening at Donington Park in the Spring for the start of the 2024 season.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“To end the season as Jack Sears Trophy champion is just incredible. We have had such an incredible debut season, and to get this title is exactly what we wanted to do.
“Right from the very first conversation we had about me making the switch to the BTCC, winning the Jack Sears Trophy was the objective, so to get the job done is incredible. I might have had to play it down at certain points this year, but this means absolutely everything to me.
“It has been such a hard fight all season, so to come out on top makes it all the sweeter to be honest. Every race and every lap have been a fight with my competitors, it has been up and down,” he added.
“This is definitely my biggest result and biggest championship win to date, so yeah, incredible – I am really, really happy. The team have done a quite amazing job and special thanks to my engineer Dan Rathmill – what a legend – my sponsors, my mum, my dad, and my sister. It really means a lot to me.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“It was a tough weekend, but in the grand scheme of things, and the season we’ve had, it means very little. We got unlucky with a few scenarios, but the fundamental performance of the car was in the right window, so that’s all I’m concentrating on – the rest is part and parcel of racing.
“In general, though, I’m so proud of what CarStore Power Maxed Racing and I have achieved across the season. On a personal level for me, I feel like it’s rejuvenated my career, and it’s given me so much motivation to get something sorted to stay here long-term, and to keep building with this incredible team.
“It’s cliché, but I’d love to give a particular shout-out to my partner network. Without them, I’d have to go and find a ‘proper job’, so I’m immensely grateful for their support. I’m not even referring specifically to the financials; it’s been so rewarding for me this year to have passionate, like-minded people in my corner at every race event, and they’ve definitely helped me unlock that extra tenth to kick on up the grid.
“A huge congratulations to Andrew on winning the Jack Sears Trophy, and commiserations to Mikey for finishing second. There always has to be a runner-up, but he’s proven himself to be just as capable as Andrew in his rookie year, and I know both of them will enjoy a good career ahead of them.
“Looking forward now, I’m keen to have a bit of a break and spend some time with my dog Archie, and our little family, but then it’s full focus on 2024, and I hope to be back, continuing this tremendous programme we’ve started to build with the team.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“What a weekend to cap off a fantastic season. Sadly, once again, things did not go my way on race day, but I feel we have certainly proved now that we have genuine top 10 race pace.
“Once again, an awesome job from the team to put together a fast car for me this weekend. My thanks must go to Adam for believing and welcoming me into his team for this season and to Martin, Richard my engineer and the rest of the guys and girls who have dedicated so much time and effort into the year.
“I wish them all a relaxing and happy off-season before we all start looking into 2024!”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“It’s always nice to end the season up on the Champions Podium, isn’t it? In terms of race results, it was one of our tougher weekends, but we won’t let that detract from a fantastic achievement on Andrew’s part. Huge congratulations to him, and to Mikey for pushing the battle down to the wire.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to all of our staff for what has been a really memorable season for the team. From the shop floor to the pit wall, everybody’s put in an incredible shift, and cultivated a brilliant team spirit. It’s laid some great foundations for us to keep building in the future.
“Whoever called it an ‘off-season’ was clearly joking, because we’ll now take a quick break to reflect and identify where we can improve, then it’s into winter testing and getting ready for next year.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“Above all, I’m so proud of what each and every member of CarStore Power Maxed Racing has achieved this season.
“It’s no secret that we’ve had a few years trying to re-build after the pandemic, but what we’ve managed to create this year, both on-track in terms of car performance, and off it with the fantastic atmosphere in the team, is among the highlights of my time in touring cars.
“Andrew and Mikey have both driven excellently all year, and either would have been a worthy Jack Sears Trophy winner. As it is, congratulations to Andrew – and we can’t wait to see them both kick on from here.
“It wasn’t Aron’s weekend, but in the context of the season he’s had as a whole, we’ll take that one and just look forward to the future.
“Lastly, a huge thank you to our fantastic title sponsors CarStore, and the rest of our dedicated network of supporters. Their support and investment in the team has helped us kick on to new height this year, and we look forward to continuing that process with their support in 2024.”
]]>The iconic 2.4-mile Grand Prix configuration plays host to the traditional season curtain call for the UK’s premier touring car championship, with Bidford-on-Avon-based PMR arriving as one of the ‘in-form’ teams after leaving Silverstone with another haul of silverware a fortnight ago.
Having spent seven years away from the outright podium, Aron Taylor-Smith’s career renaissance continued with a second visit to the rostrum in as many meetings, and the Irishman even went within a lap of returning the Vauxhall marque to the winner’s circle.
Andrew Watson’s inspired gamble on the wet-weather tyres in a changeable opening race also returned him to the podium and went some way to establishing his 18-point lead over team-mate and closest rival Mikey Doble in the Jack Sears Trophy.
CarStore Power Maxed Racing are already among the prize’s most successful teams, having won it on two previous occasions, and with Watson and Doble another 14 points clear of the next-placed car, it looks set to be a thrilling inter-team battle across the weekend’s three races for the honours.
The team could also yet taste success in the Independent Teams’ stakes, with a reduced 27-point gap to the championship summit after Silverstone; a similarly strong trip to Kent this time out could yet see the pendulum swing once more.
Brands Hatch has long been a happy hunting ground for the team in both configurations, too. Both the team’s maiden victory, courtesy of Senna Proctor back in 2018 on the Indy circuit, and it’s most recent triumph through Jason Plato in 2019 on the GP loop, have occurred in the ‘Garden of England’ and, based on recent form, a repeat showing is far from out of the question.
After the usual Saturday format of two practice sessions plus qualifying (15:40 BST), Sunday features three ITV4-televised races, at 11:30, 14:40 and 17:25 respectively.
Fans heading trackside can also meet the drivers in-person at Sunday morning’s autograph session, with access to the pit lane from 09:00.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I can’t believe it’s the last round of the season already! When I reflect back to the start of the year, we’ve learnt so much and achieved most of our goals already this season.
“I’m looking forward to getting to Brands Hatch, especially off the back of such a positive weekend for the whole team at Silverstone.
“Another podium for me, and a Jack Sears win, so that was brilliant. Obviously, I’m looking to go and lift the Jack Sears title this weekend, which would be incredible, but it’s still very tight.
“The team are in high spirits and have been putting in some fantastic work behind-the-scenes. Brands GP is one of the great circuits, and I can’t wait to tackle it in the Vauxhall Astra.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“We can definitely be feeling confident heading to Brands. The car is in the best place it has been all year, hence the results at Silverstone, and I firmly believe that it’ll be even quicker around Brands GP.
“It’s always been a track that has favoured me in the past – I took my maiden win there, back in 2012. So I go there full of confidence, and with high aspirations for what we can achieve.
“From the data and the on-board footage I’ve seen, the Astra looks phenomenal and I think we’ve progressed the car even further now than the reference point I’ve been looking at, so that’s a really exciting prospect.
“To say I’m looking forward to it is an understatement.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I cannot believe that we are already at the final round of the season. The Brands Hatch GP finale weekend has always been one of my favourite motorsports weekends of the season and to be on the grid is a true privilege!
“Coming off the highlight of my season so far at Silverstone with the pole position, I will be looking to beat that with a Jack Sears title win. We are 18 points back but as long as it’s mathematically possible there’s still a chance and anything can happen in the BTCC.
“The GP circuit at Brands should suit our Astra so we will be looking for another strong qualifying performance to set us up well for the races. This weekend cannot come soon enough!”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“It feels as though we have some real momentum behind the team at the moment. We’ve had two really strong weekends in succession, and everything from a performance perspective is in a good window.
“So, it’s a good time for us to be heading to Brands, which is historically one of the car’s best circuits. We’ve got a lot of fond memories here as a team, and I know everyone on the workshop floor and in the cockpit is determined to end the season on a positive note.
“It’ll be great to watch Mikey and Andrew battle it out over the Jack Sears Trophy, and I wouldn’t put it past any of the guys to see them up on the overall podium, too, which would be just be a really fitting end to a memorable season for the team.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“It’s been such a fantastic season for the team, it’s almost a shame to end it this weekend. We’ve hit a great run of form, and no doubt everyone will be pushing to tick off that elusive win before the winter break.
“Brands Hatch has always been a happy hunting ground for the Vauxhall Astra, so we know what a potent weapon it can be, in the right hands. We’ve got three very hungry, motivated drivers – two of whom are going for the same title – so we’ve definitely got all the ingredients for a successful weekend.
“I’ll say it after the weekend, too, but a huge thanks to our superb team of partners. This year has been something of a renaissance for CarStore Power Maxed Racing after a few difficult seasons, and their support is a real driving force behind that.”
]]>Having secured a stunning pole position courtesy of Mikey Doble the day prior – the first of his career – the Bidford-on-Avon team once again demonstrated the lasting potential of the Vauxhall Astra with two outright podiums, a Jack Sears Trophy win and an Independents victory in race trim on Sunday.
Drizzle greeted the UK’s premier touring car category upon arrival at the 1.6-mile Northamptonshire circuit, presenting teams up and down the paddock with a strategy choice between the slick and wet Goodyear tyre compounds. But the drama would begin even before the lights even went out.
An error in communication from the team to Doble resulted in the 25-year-old rookie starting a second green flag lap in the mixed conditions, whilst the rest of the field formed up as normal on the grid. That meant he would have to start from the rear of the field.
From there, however, Doble produced an impressive comeback, cementing his status as one of the series’ brightest emerging talents.
Having made steady progress through the field in the opening laps, the reigning Ginetta GT5 and BMW Compact Cup champion maintained enough performance in his slicks to benefit from a drying track surface later on in the contest, and duly stormed back to 11th.
Conversely, a wet-tyre gamble paid dividends ahead for Doble’s team-mate Andrew Watson. The early tyre performance advantage helped the Jack Sears Trophy points leader soar through the order, including ten positions on the opening lap to run second.
Although he fell back to third after a dicey battle with Dan Rowbottom, Watson claimed the final spot on the podium to spark celebrations in the garage and on the pit wall with his second trip to the overall rostrum in three meetings.
Taylor-Smith fell back to the midfield early doors on slicks, but the Irishman rallied well later on to take seventh, a net gain of one position from his eighth-placed starting berth. It would then be his turn to star in another nail-biting second race.
This time, it would be ATS on the move in the opening laps, the 33-year-old rising to second behind Jake Hill. A problem for the BMW ahead left Taylor-Smith as the race leader, and he duly set about unleashing the car’s performance to establish a 1.5-second lead.
A late-race safety car then wiped that advantage out, and left Taylor-Smith vulnerable to attack from behind. A last lap pass by Ash Sutton demoted Aron to second, but the result still marked his second podium in successive meetings and netted the team an Independent win.
Watson banked more valuable points with sixth spot, and Doble made it a hat-trick of points for the team in 15th, despite being run off the road at Luffield earlier in the race.
The trio then rounded out a productive weekend with another double haul of points in the reverse grid finale. Taylor-Smith led the charge in ninth, once again demonstrating his overtaking prowess. Doble claimed 14th to rescue a hat-trick of points finishes from a difficult day, with Watson 18th.
Notably, the net result of all three races also earned engineer Dan Rathmill a trip to the podium on the team’s behalf to collect the Teams’ award for the highest-scoring team of the weekend, in terms of overall championship points.
Taylor-Smith now stands on the cusp of breaking into the top ten in the championship standings, with a 12-point deficit to Rory Butcher ahead. Watson sits 14th, with Doble 19th.
Taylor-Smith also leads the way for the team in the Independent Drivers’ standings in second, with Watson third and Doble sixth. CarStore Power Maxed Racing leave Silverstone having maintained second in the Independent Teams’ standings, 27 points off top spot.
Watson and Doble will take their inter-team battle for the Jack Sears Trophy down to the wire at Brands Hatch in a fortnight [7-8 October], with just 18 points between them with three races to go.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“It’s been a brilliant weekend. I’m delighted to have another overall podium, I got a great start in the mixed conditions and then it went from there.
“Race 2 was really solid, again, and between those two results, I really set myself up to get the Jack Sears win for the day.
“We struggled for pace in Race 3, so we’ll need to dig deeper and find the issue, but it’s great to have another Jack Sears win – that was the goal heading into this weekend.
“It all goes down to the wire at Brands Hatch! I have to say the team were fantastic this weekend, and all the podiums, Independent wins, Jack Sears, award for the highest-scoring team… it’s testament to the work they’re putting in, so a huge thanks to them.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“I’m beyond proud of what CarStore Power Maxed Racing and myself have achieved this weekend at Silverstone.
“Podiums are a bit like buses, it seems – you wait for one, and then two come along in quick succession! This has always historically been a strong circuit for the Vauxhall Astra, and the team did a fantastic job to put it in a good window for me to be competitive this weekend.
“I think that second race might put me on the cover of ‘Almost Magazine’! It was a great fight with Ash, and although there’s always a little tinge of disappointment in finishing second, for me it’s another great signal that we’re heading in the right direction with this car and the package.
“It was also great to welcome so many of my wonderful partners and their guests to Silverstone this weekend. Their support is always felt so strongly by myself and the whole team, but it was great to have them all here in person and to celebrate the podium finish together.
“Overall, I’m feeling very satisfied with the weekend, and looking forward to Brands Hatch to finish the season on a high note.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’m not sure how to put into words the mixed emotions we are feeling coming away from Silverstone. It was a perfect storm unfortunately with the mixed weather conditions leading into Race 1, that an unfortunate mistake would result in me taking a second green flag lap.
“We fought hard to come through the field from last to 11th in race 1, followed by some fraught midfield battles in races two and three resulting in two further points finishes.
“I hope moving forward the events which occurred today will not overshadow the remarkable achievement for me and the team of scoring a pole position in my rookie season, a stat which no one will ever be able to take from me.
“We are still very much in the hunt for the Jack Sears title and there couldn’t be a better venue to bring the curtain down than Brands Hatch GP, we will be going into Brands fighting as hard as ever. Thanks must go once again to the team for all their hard work and efforts and to my friends, family and sponsors who came to support me.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“It’s definitely a day of mixed emotions, but on the whole we can be very happy with the results across the board.
“Andrew and Aron continue to go from strength to strength at the moment. To get a podium for each of them is tremendous and extends the fantastic record we have here at Silverstone with the Vauxhall Astra.
“As a team, we’ve apologised to Mikey – it was our error, and mistakes happen in this sport. But that said, I think his stock as a driver has risen so much within the paddock this weekend, not just in getting his first pole yesterday, but also in how well he battled back today to score three points finishes, and that’s credit to him.
“We’ve got two weeks now to regroup and get ready for Brands Hatch, where we’ll be aiming to end the season on a high.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“There’s never a bad day to be heading home with four trophies for the cabinet, and it’s a just reward for all the hard work and commitment the team have been putting in to keep this recent momentum going.
“On another day, Aron would have won that second race, but for that safety car period. He defended so well, and deserved more, but it was a proper motor race and we’re thrilled with another podium. The same goes for Andrew – he made a good call on tyres for the first race and reaped the rewards of that.
“Of course, today is tinged with some disappointment for Mikey. We’ve held our hands up there and undoubtedly there are lessons to learn. But as Martin has said, full credit to him for digging deep and battling back to limit the damage.
“Personally, I’m really looking forward to watching Andrew and Mikey battle it out for the Jack Sears Trophy at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time, and to the team ending the 2023 season on a positive note.
“Thanks to all our of partners for their unwavering support – hopefully days like today are a just reward for that, and it was fantastic to see and share today with so many of them – over 200 guests and VIPs – trackside.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team has historically always run well at the 1.6-mile Northamptonshire venue with the Vauxhall Astra, and were among the front-runners once again in practice, even topping the second session courtesy of Andrew Watson.
That form translated to qualifying, as both Doble and Aron Taylor-Smith comfortably cleared the cut-off for the coveted top-ten shootout after the first 30 minutes of running. The clocks then reset, with 10 minutes to decide a thrilling battle for pole.
When the track went green, BTCC rookie Doble stormed to a 57.599 second lap to score his maiden pole position, and the team’s first since Jason Plato’s timesheet-topping effort at the same venue back in 2019. It also makes CarStore Power Maxed Racing the only team to deny points leaders NAPA Racing UK pole position in 2023.
Perhaps even more remarkable was the 25-year-old’s consistency, as either of his two quickest lap times would have been enough for pole.
Joining Doble at the front of the grid for the first of Sunday’s three races live on ITV4 are several of the championship’s leading lights, with the likes of Colin Turkington, Tom Ingram, Jake Hill and Ash Sutton occupying the spots immediately behind.
Taylor-Smith ended ‘Q2’ a very respectable eighth, the Irishman chasing a second podium in successive meetings, and P12 for Watson puts him in the frame for a strong haul of points on race day.
Doble and Watson will also re-ignite their battle for the Jack Sears Trophy; the latter currently holds the advantage by 14 points, but that could all change if Doble can capitalise on his maiden pole tomorrow.
CarStore Power Maxed Racing also have a golden opportunity to make up ground in both the Independent Drivers and Teams Championships, with the competition further down the order.
Sunday's triple-header of action begins at 11:30, 14:25 and 17:10, with live, free-to-air television coverage on ITV4.
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I can’t believe we’ve got pole position! To achieve this, in my rookie season around somewhere like Silverstone is a special moment.
“It’s nice to also be the person to end NAPA Racing’s incredible pole streak. I couldn’t be happier for everybody else who’s involved in this – the team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing, my sponsors, my family.
“It’ll be an experience starting up front tomorrow with Colin Turkington alongside, let’s see what we can do.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“This is a fantastic result for the whole team, but it’s only half the job, and we’ll have a busy race day tomorrow up front with the big-hitters.
“Mikey put in a tremendous lap. It’s been a really positive day right through from FP1, and we’ve been able to keep chipping away at the car and make a few adjustments here and there to get it in the right window for him to perform.
“All three cars are in and around the top ten for tomorrow, so everything bodes well. A huge congratulations to Mikey on his first pole, and let’s see what we can make from it tomorrow”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“Silverstone has always been a happy hunting ground for the team, and for the Vauxhall Astra, so it perhaps shouldn’t be as surprising as perhaps it is that we’re up there and in the mix.
“All three drivers drove brilliantly, but of course Mikey deserves a special mention for his maiden pole. To beat most of the championship contenders to pole is no mean feat, and he’s delivered the perfect lap there.
“This is by far our busiest weekend of the year with guests and partners, so it was a fitting way to kick things off, and hopefully we’ll all be able to share in more success tomorrow.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team have enjoyed a brace of second-place finishes in successive meetings, first at Knockhill and Donington GP last time out. That, plus a hatful of Independent wins, have put the team in buoyant spirits heading to the ‘Home of British Motorsport’ this time around.
The team’s trio of Aron Taylor-Smith, Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble arrive with plenty to fight for. Taylor-Smith’s first outright podium in seven seasons at Donington have propelled him to second in the Independent Drivers’ standings, 92 points adrift of ex-PMR racer Josh Cook with six races to run.
Meanwhile, Watson and Doble have garnered plenty of attention recently, with the two locked in a fierce battle at the summit of the Jack Sears Trophy standings, a competition for those who entered the campaign without an overall podium finish.
The gap between them rests at 14 points heading to Silverstone, with Watson currently the beneficiary as the pendulum continues to swing between the pair. CarStore Power Maxed Racing also remain in contention for the Independent Teams’ honours, currently second.
This weekend, the UK’s premier touring car series tackles the 1.6-mile National configuration of Silverstone. Renowned for its somewhat ‘simple’ layout, with three straights and three corners, the venue offers plenty of overtaking opportunities around each lap.
As a result, the action is often unpredictable and, with a host of drivers looking to set themselves up for a chance at glory on Finals Day at Brands Hatch a fortnight later, expect plenty of thrills – and a few spills – along the way.
Qualifying can often make or break the weekend, but the team’s Vauxhall Astra is a proven quantity around Silverstone, with highlights include pole and a podium for Jason Plato in 2019, and a double trip to the rostrum through Dan Lloyd two years later.
As usual, the action will be broadcast live on ITV4, with lights out for Sunday’s three contests at 11:30, 14:25 and 17:10 respectively (all times BST).
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m really looking forward to getting out at Silverstone, the National circuit is one I really enjoy driving.
“I’ve had great results there in the past, and I know the car should be good around there in the high-speed sections. Everything’s going well and the team are in a great position.
“There’s a lot still to play for in the Jack Sears Trophy in the last two rounds, so I’m feeling fully focused and looking to pick up some more silverware.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Silverstone is always one of my favourite races of the year. I absolutely love the track, and how busy it is – it’ll be a jam-packed one in the grandstands, and in our hospitality unit with all our fantastic partners and guests.
“We’re going there off the back of a very successful Donington, and I think we’ve made significant progress with the car. The chassis has always been very fast around here, it’s been on pole in previous years and always scored good results.
“I’m confident going there that the car will be in a very good window, and I’m personally feeling more prepared than ever. Everything is starting to gel – the team, staff, the car. Aspirations are high, and I think we can smash it out the park and finish the season on a real high.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“Coming from a point-less weekend at Donington, I cannot wait to get things underway at Silverstone and push back towards the top ten.
We are now on the home stretch of the 2023 season, and it is crucial that we capitalise on our cars’ strengths on the fast and flowing circuits we have left.
“The battle for the Jack Sears Trophy is as hot as ever and that will remain our point of focus.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“There’s a real feeling at HQ at the moment that things are starting to click, and the results we’ve had on track have definitely proved that point.
“It means we go to Silverstone this weekend looking for more of the same, and to keep pushing on and challenge for a win, if at all possible.
“The Vauxhall Astra’s characteristics certainly suit the National circuit at Silverstone, so if we can qualify well, I think there’s every chance it’ll be another competitive weekend for the guys.
“Obviously it’s now the business end of the season and I’m sure there will be a few twists and turns up at the front, so being in a position to capitalise on that will be crucial.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“This weekend is probably going to be our busiest of the season, with almost 200 VIP guests joining us trackside with our fantastic partners.
“To see such a heightened interest in the team is a real testament to the work Martin, his team and the drivers have been doing on and off-track, which has really propelled us back into the fight at the sharp end of the grid.
“Silverstone has been a happy hunting ground for us previously, so the hope is for a repeat showing, and a weekend for everybody to remember.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team made the relatively short trip to the 2.4-mile East Midlands venue buoyed after scoring two ‘Indy’ wins and the first outright podium of Andrew Watson’s career last time out at Knockhill.
That, plus a promising showing at Goodyear’s in-season tyre test around the Grand Prix layout put spirits high, as the series’ returned to the full-length configuration of Donington Park for the first time in 21 years.
Qualifying set the tone for a strong weekend, with Aron Taylor-Smith recovering from front-right damage after striking a tyre stack at the Foggarty Esses chicane to post the fifth fastest time of the session.
With Watson and Mikey Doble also scoring 12th and 16th place starting spots for the team’s other two Vauxhall Astra challengers, it promised to be a points-heavy race day on Sunday.
Race day dawned, and with it the promised rain arrived, forcing the entire field onto wet tyres for the first of three races in front of an enthusiastic – if a bit sodden – trackside crowd, plus millions more enjoying the coverage at home on ITV4.
When the lights went out, Taylor-Smith was bested by the fast-starting, rear-wheel drive BMW of Adam Morgan, and dropped to sixth on the run through Redgate. Undeterred, the Irishman made an almost immediate response, sending a lunge to the inside at Melbourne hairpin to take the place back.
Both would lose a spot to the sister BMW of Jake Hill as he charged through the order late on, but sixth at the chequered flag still represented a second Independents win in as many meetings for the 33-year-old.
Watson and Doble both fell back at the start but recovered impressively. Watson started his comeback by making five passes in just two laps, before passing Butcher on the brakes into the Melbourne hairpin and then claiming ninth from an ailing Morgan in the closing laps.
Doble had dropped to 20th by the end of the first tour, but the reigning Ginetta GT5 and BMW Compact Cup champion was able to restore his 16th place by the finish, scoring valuable Jack Sears Trophy points in the process.
Race two brought about drier weather, but the trio seemed to struggle in the changed conditions; Taylor-Smith was able to put himself in the reverse grid draw with tenth, but Watson and Doble could only manage P16 and P18 after a sometimes-feisty inter-team battle.
But the real highlight of the weekend, without a doubt, was the reverse grid finale. Having been drawn onto third, Taylor-Smith fended off Morgan on this occasion with a robust defence into Redgate, before diving past Tom Chilton’s Hyundai into the hairpin.
His time in second was short-lived, however, as a move from Rory Butcher’s Toyota around the outside of the Craner Curves forced Taylor-Smith to concede into the Old Hairpin.
The Dubliner held his nerve in third spot and benefited from a cruel twist of fate late on, as leader Daniel Lloyd’s broken driveshaft a few corners from home put him in the gravel, and Taylor-Smith back into second place.
He took the flag, and another Independents win, to spark jubilant scenes on the pit wall, in the garage and trackside, as the BTCC’s passionate crowd celebrated the end of a 2,555-day podium drought for one of the series’ established stars.
Watson ended the day in the points with P12 and co-won the Jack Sears Trophy over the course of the event with Sam Osbourne. He now leads Doble – who ended the final race in P16 – by 14 points.
Taylor-Smith’s heroics have leap-frogged him into second in the Independent Drivers’ standings, with CarStore Power Maxed Racing now occupying the same spot in the Teams’ stakes.
Silverstone’s National circuit hosts the penultimate event of the season on 23-24 September.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“It’s been a really solid weekend. The headline is we’re back in the lead of the Jack Sears Trophy, which is great.
“Race 1, we had really positive pace in the wet again, and made some great progress to P9. Race 2 was a bit of a struggle in the dry, we had a poor start and fell back a bit.
“But again, the car was really fast in Race 3, and we got back into the points in P11.
“It follows up such a strong weekend at Knockhill and shows where the Vauxhall Astra is at the moment. Aron’s result was great for everybody as well, the team are doing a tremendous job at the moment.
“I’m chomping at the bit now to get to Silverstone!”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Coming into the weekend, I had a feeling this could be a special one, based on our performance here during the Goodyear tyre test.
“But, to come away with two Independent wins and an outright podium is something I’m immensely proud of.
“It’s an absolute testament to everything that CarStore Power Maxed Racing have done with this Vauxhall Astra, in giving me a package that can compete at the front of the field with the best of the best.
“It’s not lost on me how difficult that is to achieve – I have seven years without a podium as a reference point!
“Without Adam’s belief in me, without the support of Martin and the whole team, there’s no way I’d be doing what I am doing. I feel like they have resurrected my touring car career and I couldn’t be any happier.
“We’re heading to Silverstone next, which is one of the circuit’s I’d circled in my calendar as one where the car has been historically strong, and I think will be again, so I think we can kick on from this and enjoy a really strong end to the season.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“A tough weekend from my side of the garage. A brake issue in FP1 ended my session early, followed by a wet FP2.
“Qualifying didn’t go to plan either, with a mechanical issue which had to be fixed in the pit lane. To get back out with less than ten minutes to go and end up P16 was a good result.
“The race day went slightly better with a steady P16 in Race 1, however Race 2 we suffered a brake issue which cost us making further progress up the field.
“Race 3 was another steady finish to P16, however sadly still out of the points. It hurts we have lost the Jack Sears Trophy lead, but we will come back fighting at Silverstone.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“We were very optimistic going into this weekend, with how we’ve performed in recent rounds, and the pace we had at the tyre test, but it’s a fantastic feeling to deliver on that and walk away with a podium, plus some class wins.
“Aron has been such a tremendous driving force for the team this year, so I’m very pleased to see him back where he belongs, up at the front. Andrew banked some good points and a Jack Sears win, and Mikey did well to navigate a few problems and keep himself in the hunt.
“Silverstone should be another good circuit for us, so we’ll regroup at HQ, go through a few things and then aim to come back in three weeks and keep this good run going.
“A huge thanks to the entire team for their continued hard work, commitment and support – this result is yours, as much as anybody.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“Days like today are why we go racing, plain and simple.
“I’m so proud of everybody at CarStore Power Maxed Racing. All year, we’ve known that performances like this were on the cards. We have three fantastic drivers, and a tremendous team off-track, and this is all no more than everybody deserves.
“There’s definitely life left in the Vauxhall Astra yet, despite what you might hear! It’s great to go back to the workshop with a handful of trophies tonight, and with everything left to play for over the last six races in three different championships.
“It feels like we’re riding on the crest of a wave at the moment, long may that continue. Hopefully results like this help us attract new partners to the team, so we can achieve weekends like this every time."
]]>An inspired call by engineer Dan Rathmill to switch to wet-weather Goodyear tyres in a dry-damp opening race in Scotland paid dividends for the team’s trio of Andrew Watson, Aron Taylor-Smith, and Mikey Doble, elevating them through the order.
It enabled Watson to take a maiden BTCC podium in second, the team’s first since October 2021. Taylor-Smith would follow it up with an Independents win in the second contest, before Doble led the charge in the reverse grid finale.
As a result, the team make the short trip to Donington Park this weekend a solid second in the Independent Teams standings, and with Doble and Watson just a point apart as the clear leaders among the Jack Sears Trophy runners.
It’s a special weekend for both circuit and championship, as the BTCC races on the full ‘Grand Prix’ layout for the first time in two decades.
Surprisingly, given the change in lap is only three corners, it adds a different set of challenges for the UK’s premier touring car category to navigate. This includes the fast left-right Foggarty Esses, another prime overtaking spot on the brakes into the Melbourne hairpin, and another tight hairpin at Goddards to close each lap.
That, plus the usual sequence of high-speed, flowing corners will deliver a thrilling spectacle for the capacity crowd trackside, plus millions more watching live on ITV4.
Recent results, plus the team’s promising showing on the GP loop during the in-season Goodyear Tyre Test, at which Taylor-Smith was second-fastest minus the hybrid system on board his car, have kept motivation high at HQ, as the team continues to build back towards the front on a regular basis.
Competitive action begins with qualifying at 15:40 (BST) on Saturday, following the usual two free practice sessions to help the teams, and drivers, get dialled in ahead of the weekend’s action.
Sunday features the usual fare of three races, with lights out scheduled for 11:45, 14:45 and 17:20 respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m really looking forward to Donington Park this weekend. It’s probably the best prepared for a race I’ve been this year, because we’ve raced the National circuit already and had a good tyre test on the GP loop during the break.
“The car felt good on both those occasions, and Knockhill was such a strong weekend for the team, so confidence is definitely up.
“I’m learning more and more about front wheel drive, and racing in the BTCC all the time. Hopefully we can score some more good points and capitalise on the good spirits we’re all in. I’m looking forward to it!”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“I’m in a great headspace going into Donington this weekend. Racing on the GP circuit is something that hasn’t been done in 20-odd years.
“We’re going back there off the back of a really strong test there in the summer break, where I felt like we progressed the Astra, and after our most successful weekend as a team at Knockhill, so the wind is very much in our sails.
“I’m going in more confident than ever. I know what the team, the car, myself are capable of, and I think we can put on a good fight this weekend. I’m feeling bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and excited to see what we can do!”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“Donington GP is a very memorable circuit for me. I achieved many of my career milestones on this layout, including my first championship in car racing last year.
“I feel very confident on the cars pace heading into this weekend, as we showed great speed at the tyre test this summer. I am aiming for a strong Saturday performance to set us up well for some decent results in Sundays races and of course to increase my lead in the Jack Sears Trophy.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“Everybody at HQ has had a smile on their faces since Knockhill, which is great to see. But, of course, that just makes us all the more motivated to turn it into a regular occurrence.
“Donington was a good circuit for us earlier in the season, in both wet and dry conditions. It is a slightly different layout, of course, but we know we have a good baseline to work from with the drivers, and the car.
“I’m sure, as always, qualifying will hold the key, and then from there we’ll keep pushing to make the best of what cards we get dealt.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“Knockhill was a really important milestone for the team this season. We’ve been saying for some time now that we’re re-building, moving in the right direction and getting back to where we should be. It’s nice to showcase that in results, as much as our performance.
“But Donington is a new weekend, with a fresh set of challenges. It’s somewhere we made a few headlines at in the spring, so fingers crossed we’ll be similarly competitive this time out, and we can build on Knockhill.
“We’re in a good position now for both the Independent Teams’ and Jack Sears Trophy standings, so it’s important we continue to push on and make the most of that.
“I can’t wait to get back trackside, and I look forward to sharing the weekend with all of our fantastic partners and supporters, who do so much to keep us on the grid and in the fight.”
]]>The series’ annual trip north of the Scottish border to the 1-mile Fife venue carried extra significance for the Bidford-on-Avon team by dint of the anniversary, after nearly a decade fighting at the very front in the UK’s premier touring car category.
The team’s trio of Andrew Watson, Aron Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble were among the fastest runners in practice but were unlucky to miss out on another qualifying top-ten shootout appearance, as a drying track bumped their best efforts down the timing screens.
In an ironic twist, however, the very changeable weather conditions that put Taylor-Smith, Watson and Doble in P12, P15 and P22 respectively would also return them to the sharp end of the grid in race trim on Sunday.
After a steady start to the first of three ITV4-televised races, the heavens opened at Knockhill, prompting Watson to pit for wet-weather Goodyear tyres. A lap later, Taylor-Smith and Doble followed him in.
The trio benefited hugely from the gamble, rising steadily through the order as those risking a longer stint on slicks in the hope of clearer skies were eventually forced to concede and head for the pit lane.
Watson benefited most from the strategy call to take the chequered flag in fourth. What started out as a class victory among the Independent runners then became an outright podium, with two cars ahead disqualified for failing post-race ride height checks.
Now promoted to second, the result marked Watson’s first career podium in the BTCC in only his rookie campaign, with Taylor-Smith and Doble similarly benefitting from the exclusion to move up to sixth and ninth respectively, and score a triple points haul for the team on their 250th start.
It was also the team’s first overall podium finish since the Brands Hatch GP finale in 2021, and marked another step on the team’s journey back to winning ways.
The champagne had scarcely dried, before the team made another visit to the rostrum later in the day. This time Taylor-Smith would be the beneficiary, the Irishman quickly rising from sixth to fourth in the opening exchanges of race two, including a bold move to the inside of Watson at Clark’s.
Watson held on for ninth spot, but arguably the drive of the race went to Doble, the 25-year-old putting in one of the best defensive drives of the season to-date to hold off a host of the championship’s leading lights displaced by the rain-affected opener.
The result meant all that, for the first time this season, all three cars would feature in the reverse grid draw to decide the starting order for the finale. As it was, the trio maintained the status quo, after being drawn in fourth (Taylor-Smith), ninth (Watson) and 12th (Doble) respectively.
In typical Knockhill fashion, the heavens opened moments before the start of race three, prompting an urgent tyre change for the entire field on the grid.
The Vauxhall Astra is a proven quantity in the wet conditions, and the team dug deep in the finale to prove its capabilities once more – although not quite as they had intended.
Doble rose to the occasion in the downpour, and after a handful of laps behind the safety car, he was set loose.
In a topsy-turvy contest, the Surrey-based racer held his own in a tightly-contested pack, eventually taking the flag in 11th. It marked a fitting end to a ‘poinsty’ day for Doble, and a fine recovery after an engine change overnight, and problems even up until moments before the opening race on Sunday.
A problem with one of Taylor-Smith’s headlights forced him to pit from fourth for repairs after the initial laps behind the safety car. It would leave him rooted to the back of the field, in P27, when the racing resumed.
Undeterred, he immediately set about making progress up the order, and a series of bold overtakes promoted him to the final points-paying position in 15th, one position ahead of Watson.
Overall, it rounded out a hugely positive day for the team, with a podium, two Independent class wins, and eight points finish from a possible nine on a circuit that has rarely favoured the Vauxhall package in recent seasons.
The net result of which has promoted Taylor-Smith to fourth in the Independent Drivers’ standings, two and four points respectively ahead of Doble and Watson in fifth and sixth.
In the Teams’ stakes, CarStore Power Maxed Racing have cemented second, the gap to the championship summit now 39 points. Doble’s race three heroics have kept him out front in the Jack Sears Trophy standings, albeit by a single point from Watson as their inter-team battle rages on.
The series reconvenes at Donington Park in a fortnight [26-27 August], when the BTCC tackles the full Grand Prix layout for the first time in 20 years.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“This weekend at Knockhill has been a complete rollercoaster, but obviously the main news is my first podium in the BTCC. It was incredible to get that with a second-place finish, what a day!
“Race three didn’t go our way, we had a problem with the wiper, which made it really hard to see in the spray.
“I just want to say a huge thank you to the team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing, especially my car crew for that massive result earlier. We’ve scored a lot of points, and in general, it was a great day in very tough conditions.
“The team did a great job – onwards and upwards to Donington Park!”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“What a weekend it has been. I’m feeling really pumped, not just because of the results, but also the performance of the CarStore Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra. This is easily the best this car has gone here in many years, and it was an absolute pleasure to drive.
“Everybody within the team has performed at such a high level, whether that’s in the preparation of the cars, making big strategy calls like we had to in race one, or being quick on their feet in high-pressure moments like the pit stop in race three to get me back out on track.
“So, these results are as much for them and my fantastic team of partners, as they are for me. To be back on the podium in the BTCC was a real pleasure – although the champagne tastes a little more watered down than I remember!
“And even in the last race, to come back from P27 to P15, in such dreadful conditions, really highlights to me the potential we have in this car. It’s clear to me that we would have been in the mix up at the front, had our luck run differently.
“Overall, I’m leaving Knockhill feeling so positive about the car, this team, and the direction we’re heading in at the moment. I can’t wait to get to Donington in two weeks’ time and build on this.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“After a difficult Saturday, I am over the moon with the results we have walking away from Knockhill.
“The team and I played a blinder on strategy in race one to take me from P22 to P9. Race two was a personal favourite as we held our own in the top ten for most of the race, battling with some of the biggest names in touring cars.
“Race three threw a curve ball at everyone with an almighty down pour just minutes before the race. Once again, we had a strong race and held a strong position to finish P11 concluding a triple points-scoring weekend.
“Knockhill is an extremely tough track to be a rookie at and to come away still leading the Jack Sears Trophy with three rounds to go is a job well done. I can’t wait to go to Donington GP, a track with fond memories of winning my Ginetta GT5 Challenge title last year.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“We’ve so much to be positive about as a team after this weekend. It was definitely a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from start to finish.
“The team performed at such a high level in tough conditions, so I’m really proud of the results we’ve come away with.
“We got the big strategy calls right when it mattered, gave the guys three cars they could go and really attack with in all conditions, and everybody’s going home with a smile.
“It’s definitely a just reward for all the hard work everybody continues to put in, and hopefully we can go out and get more of the same at Donington in a fortnight.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“We’ve known a day like today was coming for quite some time now, with the momentum the team has built, and with such a productive, positive atmosphere around the awning.
“I suppose it was a fitting result, to mark 250 races in the BTCC with a return to the podium. In 250 races, it was definitely one of the crazier ones we’ve been involved in, but the team did a fantastic job and aced the strategy call on the tyres.
“Knockhill hasn’t always been a friend of ours, so to come away with plenty of points, some silverware for HQ and another box ticked in our journey back to the front end of the grid is as much as we could have asked for.
“A huge thanks as always to the team – in the awning, working hospitality – and to our tremendous partners who support us trackside and from afar. That one was payback for your support!”
]]>Formed in 2015 after dipping a toe in the water the year prior as a title sponsor, the Bidford-on-Avon team have since become a household name in the UK’s premier touring car category.
Among the highlights are four race victories, 21 podium finishes, two Jack Sears Trophy titles, re-introducing the iconic Vauxhall brand to the grid, and a roll of honour boasting some of the championship’s leading lights, not to mention the exciting new roster of Andrew Watson, Mikey Doble and Aron Taylor-Smith!
Ahead of the team’s 250th start at Knockhill this weekend, we asked Team Principal and Founder, Adam Weaver, to pick out five of his highlights from the last nine seasons.
Rockingham 2015: Cook scores the team’s maiden podium
Right from the get-go, Power Maxed Racing were an established top-ten team in the BTCC, armed with a pair of Chevrolet Cruzes, and a unique blend of experience and young talent behind the wheel in Dave Newsham, and the emerging Josh Cook.
Cook’s stellar form in his rookie year of touring car racing would be one of the ‘stories of the season’, and his first visit to the overall podium was nothing short of breathtaking.
Having started a lowly 14th, the Bath-based racer quickly set about making progress through the field at Rockingham, eventually bringing him to the tail of Adam Morgan’s Mercedes with a handful of laps remaining.
Morgan proved tough to pass, but a sensational move to the outside of the Brook chicane – the final corner – was enough for Cook to snatch his and the team’s maiden podium in the dying seconds of the race.
Brands GP 2015: Cook crowned Jack Sears Trophy champion
The season ended in fitting fashion for the fresh-faced Cook, too, as he got his hands on the Jack Sears Trophy in its maiden year – at the time, a championship for drivers racing in their first season of touring cars.
Cook had, in fact, wrapped up the honours with that overall podium at Rockingham, moving him decisively clear of nearest rival, and former Renault UK Clio Cup sparring partner, Mike Bushell.
But the weekend would not be without its drama for Cook. In his final appearance for the team, heavy contact on the opening lap dislocated Cook’s shoulder. He was able to pop it back in place during a safety car intervention, and went on to finish, and receive his prize.
Brands GP 2017: Proctor seals second JST title
The team’s penchant for bringing through exciting new talents continued in 2017, with the arrival of Senna Proctor – fast by name, and by nature.
Much like Cook, Proctor immediately established himself as a consistent points-scorer, and took a tremendous 15 wins – half a season – in class amongst the Jack Sears Trophy runners.
As a result, he finished nearly 100 points clear of his nearest rival Ant Whorton-Eales, and brought a second Jack Sears title back to PMR.
Brands Indy 2018: Wild scenes as Proctor wins chaotic wet-dry contest
The team’s first victory would arrive in unbelievable circumstances; a wet-dry contest around the natural amphitheatre of Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit.
A year prior, the team had re-introduced the hugely-successful Vauxhall brand back to the BTCC grid and were re-joined by Cook – now a seasoned front-runner – alongside Proctor in his sophomore year.
Fast-forward to the second round of the year, and tricky wet-dry conditions forced a number of teams to make a choice on tyre compounds on the grid – Senna and the team opted for slicks, a decision that would pay dividends later on.
Starting at the tail end of the grid in 27th, Proctor went on a stunning charge as the conditions came to him, rising to the race lead with just a handful of laps to go, before crossing the line to spark wild celebrations in the team’s garage.
Pre-Season 2019: Jason Plato joins the PMR ranks
The team made a real statement of intent during the subsequent off-season, by announcing the arrival of BTCC legend Jason Plato alongside seasoned championship contender, Rob Collard.
The news immediately boosted the team’s stock as a force at the front, with Plato adding the last of his 97 race victories – to-date! – in the season finale at Brands GP later that year. The team also brought home five podium finishes that campaign, one of its most successful to-date.
It also marked a reunion between Plato and Vauxhall for the first time since a title-winning campaign with the works squad in 2001, in which Plato triumphed in a bitter inter-team battle between himself and Frenchman, Yvan Muller.
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon-based team has been competing at the front of the BTCC for almost a decade now, stretching back to its debut with a pair of Chevrolet Cruze challengers for Dave Newsham and Josh Cook back in 2015.
Fast forward two seasons, and the team successfully re-introduced the iconic Vauxhall marque to the grid. A first victory followed a year later through Senna Proctor, and since then, the team has added three further wins, plus achieved a total of 21 podium finishes to establish itself as a fighting force in the UK’s premier touring car category.
The opening race of the weekend at Knockhill will be the team’s 250th start, with the current line-up of Aron Taylor-Smith, Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble keen to mark the occasion with another fine result, as the team enjoys something of a renaissance in recent times.
The annual trip to the 1.27-mile Fife circuit will also mark the next chapter in the team’s push for both the Independent Teams and Jack Sears Trophy titles, after taking another step forward at Croft a fortnight ago.
Doble claimed a second victory in-class of the season to propel himself to the top of the standings in Yorkshire, with Watson similarly on-form to bounce back from a tricky qualifying into the points. He now occupies second spot, four points behind Doble.
Taylor-Smith isn’t eligible for Jack Sears honours, but the Irishman also enjoyed a starring role, with a hat-trick of points finishes – including a brace of top-tens – keeping the team within striking range in the Independent Teams’ standings, the gap to the top currently 46 points.
Characterised by its rapid changes in gradient and fast, unforgiving nature, Knockhill is a true test of both driver and machine. There are three major overtaking spots to watch out for, the first as the cars head down Duffus Dip and brake for the right-hander at McIntyre’s.
A good exit out of the uphill Black Circles chicane can then tee up a move into Clark’s, and then last – but certainly not least – on the brakes into the final hairpin. Based around 20 miles from Edinburgh, on the right day, with the weather ‘on-side’, it’s even possible to see the iconic Forth Bridge framed as a backdrop to three thrilling contests on-track.
As usual, Sunday’s action will broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV4 in the UK, with lights out for the three races at 11:45, 14:40 and 17:20 respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“Knockhill’s a circuit that I love driving, and I’m really excited to tackle it in a touring car – I think it’s the perfect machine for the layout.
“It’s somewhere I’ve always done well at in my Ginetta days, so it’ll be great to be back. We’re still figuring out a few things we need to work on – qualifying has let us down a bit, that last couple of races, so I’m looking forward to ironing that out and being back in the fight.
“The car should be good there, there are certain characteristics to our package that are very strong. Our pace last time at Croft was very encouraging, so I’m looking forward to getting back to having my elbows out and enjoying life in the BTCC.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Knockhill has always been one of my favourite tracks. It’s a circuit that I’ve always gone well at, right from my first season in touring cars.
“I always seem to gel with the circuit, and it’s one of those tracks that really suits me style. You have to be confident and aggressive with the car, and know when to attack and when to be patient.
“From what I’ve experienced so far this year in the Vauxhall Astra, it should go well there, and I would say we have a fighting chance. Confidence should be very high after the progression we’ve made recently, so we’ve got the momentum on our side.
“The local crowd there are always fantastic too – it’s a round I always really look forward to every year – so hopefully we can go up there and put on a great show for everyone.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“Whatever I’ve raced in, a weekend at Knockhill has always been among the highlights of a season for me.
“I really enjoy the challenges that it, as a circuit, presents and it always produces incredibly close racing.
“The Scottish crowd are always very enthusiastic, so hopefully we can reward them with a great show, and selfishly, I’d like to be up there and scoring some great results!
“My aim for the weekend, specifically, would be to extend the lead in the Jack Sears Trophy, so that’s priority number one.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“Knockhill is a fantastic venue, and definitely one of our favourites as a team on the BTCC calendar each year.
“We’re arriving in a really good stretch of form at the moment, so the key for us will be extending that, and building on it, if we can.
“Everybody’s fantastic work paid off at Croft last time out, when we are able to get the Jack Sears lead, so now it’s about extending that, and hopefully making up some ground in the Independent Teams’ standings too.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“It doesn’t feel like yesterday we were lining up on the grid for our first race in the BTCC, but 249 later – here we are, and I’m really looking forward to Knockhill this weekend.
“We’ve had some fantastic highs and lows in our last eight years as a team, but we’re on a really positive run right now, and our first priority as a team this weekend is to make sure we keep pushing on getting the best from the Vauxhall Astra.
“We’re looking forward to it – even the drive up – and I can’t wait to see our fantastic partners there too cheer us on to what will, hopefully, be another good set of results.”
]]>Refreshed after the summer break, and with the wind in their sails after a strong showing at the in-season Goodyear Tyre Test, the Bidford-on-Avon squad made the trip to Yorkshire looking to build on a positive first five rounds of the 2023 campaign.
Good pace in practice translated to a fourth row starting slot in qualifying for Aron Taylor-Smith in the leading Vauxhall Astra, with team-mates Mikey Doble and Andrew Watson in P15 and P20 respectively, and in with a good shout of scoring some points.
And so that proved to be the case, as the trio got their elbows out and mucked in with the rest of the UK’s brightest touring car talents on a typically eventful race day in front of a capacity crowd – and millions more at home watching live on ITV4.
After being shuffled wide at Clervaux on the opening lap in race one, Taylor-Smith rallied well, and the Irishman steadily returned through the order to complete the top ten. Doble and Watson similarly went on the offensive, rising to P14 and P17 at the chequered flag.
Using up the best of his Goodyear tyres whilst stuck behind slower cars hampered Taylor-Smith’s progress in race two and, once released, he could only scale back as far as P12. It would be Watson that triumphed in the inter-team battle with Doble on this occasion, finding a way past to claim the final point in 15th.
All three drivers then turned in a weekend-best showing to round out the day, with Taylor-Smith recovering from a grid penalty to storm nine places up the order and take ninth. The 33-year-old’s defensive prowess was on display once again, holding off a succession of challengers to end the triple header with a windfall of points.
Doble and Watson were similarly on the move to P12 and P14, that despite Watson being forced onto the grass at Tower on the opening lap and falling to the back.
Crucially for Doble, that netted him not only the Jack Sears Trophy victory for the day as a whole, but also promoted the rookie to the lead in the class standings, with Watson similarly leap-frogging the competition into second spot.
Seven points separate the pair, with CarStore Power Maxed Racing also cementing a solid second in the Independent Teams’ Championship. The series heads next to Knockhill, Fife over the weekend of 12-13 August.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“Everything today was hard-fought for, I would say. We gave ourselves a lot to do with qualifying not going to plan, but we fought through the pack well, scored really good Jack Sears points and got up to second in that championship.
“It’s not bad, from that point of view. I got run off in the last race, but touring cars is rough, so I felt the brunt of that! Overall, not a bad weekend, we closed up the championship lead, and I’m learning lots. Plenty to digest before Knockhill, which I’m looking forward to already.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“This has probably been, historically, a tough circuit for the Vauxhall Astra over the last few years, I don’t think it’s been inside the top ten for a couple of years here.
“The work that the whole team have been doing, both at the tyre test and here at Croft this weekend, has gotten us back into that ballpark, and having the ability to fight.
“The penalty in race two was unfortunate. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but I felt it was a bit on the harsh side. But that’s life!
“We started 18th, and on the hard tyre, so to come back through to ninth was a real positive, everybody did a great job. Of the five circuits left in this second half of the season, Croft was probably the hardest, and we’ve gotten that out of the way now.
“I’m really excited for Knockhill, and I feel like we can do a really good job there, too.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“Three great races today, and I’ve come away with the Jack Sears Trophy, my second of the season, so I’m proud to win this once again.
“I think we’ve taken the lead of the Jack Sears standings, so that’s the main objective we had coming into the weekend achieved.
“But three very solid results. We didn’t make as much progress as we’d have liked on the soft tyres, but on the hard tyre, the car was mega. Credit to the team, and everyone who’s prepared the car.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“This isn’t historically the strongest circuit for the car, but I think the results we’ve achieved this weekend just continue to demonstrate the progress we’re making with the Vauxhall Astra at the moment.
“Our one-lap pace was good enough for all three drivers to be in the top ten, as Aron was, and in race trim, we were more than able to hold our own against a range of different cars, including a BMW, which would have been un-thinkable at Croft just a season or two ago.
“A huge thanks to the whole team for their effort and dedication. We really are taking steps in the right direction every weekend. I’m looking forward to Knockhill, and what we can do there.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“It’s another decent haul of points, and we’ve got both of our Jack Sears Trophy-eligible drivers to the top of that championship now. As Croft weekends go, historically, that has to be up there for us!
“It was great to see the guys have a chance to make progress and get their elbows out during the races, too. We’re in a position out of the box every weekend now where we can be competitive and ‘have a go’ – and that’s a real testament to Martin, our team and the drivers for engaging in that process so enthusiastically.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the team, and long may that continue. Thanks as always to our partners and the staff behind-the-scenes, including the hospitality – without it, we don’t go racing, so their support is always much appreciated.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team resume their push for both the Independent Teams and Jack Sears Trophy titles in the UK’s premier touring car championship at the 2.1-mile Yorkshire venue after a six-week summer hiatus, having enjoyed a stellar start to the 2023 campaign thus far.
In just half a season, the CarStore-backed team has already exceeded its total points haul for 2022, with the new-look trio of Aron Taylor-Smith, Mikey Doble and Andrew Watson pushing the Vauxhall Astra back to the sharp end of the grid.
The synergy between the drivers and team has delivered a number of highlights, including Jack Sears Trophy victories at Donington, Thruxton and Oulton Park last time out, a steady haul of points finishes, plus numerous top-ten shootout appearances in qualifying.
As a result, the team enters Croft just 35 points shy of the summit in the Independent Teams’ standings. Just ten points separates the top three among the Jack Sears runners, with Doble and Watson looking to go on the offensive from second and third place respectively.
Offering a blend of high and low-speed corners, technique is the key to achieving a lap time around Croft. The heavy breaking zone at Tower, the sweeping Jim Clark Esses and the final hairpin offer plenty of overtaking opportunities, and the annual trip to Yorkshire often delivers a typically-boisterous weekend of BTCC action.
The team was also buoyed by a strong showing at the recent in-season tyre test at Donington Park, with Taylor-Smith a promising second on the East Midlands venue’s GP loop, behind only reigning champion, Tom Ingram.
Qualifying kicks off the competitive action at 15:25 (BST) on Saturday, after two free practice sessions to get dialled in. Sunday features the usual triple-header of ITV4-televised action, with lights out at 12:10, 14:35 and 17:00 respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m feeling really good, in general, heading to Croft.
“We had a really positive tyre test during the break, and the gap gives the team a proper chance to strip the cars back to the components and then re-prep them.
“So, I know the Vauxhall Astra underneath me will be in good shape. We had a pre-season test at Croft, the weather wasn’t ideal at that stage in the year, but we still had a chance to get a look at the track, which is more than I’ve had for most circuits so far this season.
“I’m feeling refreshed and re-charged in myself. We had great pace during the first half of the season but didn’t always convert it. I’ve learnt a lot, and I’m looking forward to putting it into practice, starting at Croft.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“As a team, we can definitely go into the second half of the season with a lot of confidence. We’ve made a lot of progress on the chassis, especially at the Goodyear tyre test, and we can be really in contention going forwards.
“Croft is the start of a sequence of tracks which are among my favourites, too, so that’s always nice. I truly believe we have one of the fastest packages underneath us.
“I’m excited, and also a lot more confident than I felt even at the start of the season. The team structure really suits me, I know the strengths of the car better, I know what we can achieve, and I really feel at home within the group.
“In this game, confidence is key. And I feel really confident, going into the remaining five race weekends.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’m absolutely chomping at the bit to get back on track in the BTCC this weekend at Croft.
“I’ve had a really strong first half of my rookie season, and I’m looking to continue that form and pick up more Jack Sears Trophy victories, and some overall points finishes over the remaining five race weekends.
“Croft – much like Thruxton last time out – is in my ‘top 3’ circuits, as a driver. So, I’ll be aiming for a similarly strong qualifying result, and that should set us up for another string of good finishes.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“I’m convinced the term “summer break” was introduced by somebody trying to have a clever joke at the paddock’s expense – because it always ends up being one of the most flat-out times of the year!
“That said, there’s a real buzz around the workshop this week, all the guys and girls at CarStore Power Maxed Racing are itching to get to Croft, and put a good shift in.
“I think that’s really reflective of where we are at the moment, as a team. It’s certainly a stark contrast from even twelve months ago, so that gives me a lot of optimism going into the second half of the season.
“The in-season tyre test went well, the drivers seem in good shape, so let’s see what we can achieve at Croft this weekend.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“There’s definitely something in the air at CarStore Power Maxed Racing at the moment. The synergy between the team has been a real joy to see this year, and I’m sure we’ll continue to build on the progress we’ve made across the remaining five rounds.
“As always, a huge thanks to all our team partners and sponsors for their support. Put simply, it’s the fuel behind the project, and everything we’re delivering on track at the moment is as a direct result of their backing. I’m looking forward to welcoming some of them as guests this weekend.”
]]>Ahead of the series’ much-anticipated return to the full Grand Prix loop at Donington Park next month, the East Midlands venue welcomed the UK’s premier tin-top category for a full day of running.
Andrew Watson, Aron Taylor-Smith, and Mikey Doble – who have already exceeded the team’s 2022 points haul in just half of the current campaign – registered a total of 176 laps around the 2.4-mile circuit across over six hours of running.
Taylor-Smith was the best-placed of the three, the Irishman setting the second-fastest time of the day overall in the Vauxhall Astra, with Watson and Doble in P10 and P15 to round out a strong showing.
Even more notably, Taylor-Smith completed his best effort without having the TOCA Hybrid system active, which could be worth up to an additional three tenths of a second per lap when initiated.
The next stop for the trio is Croft Circuit, Yorkshire, for the next three rounds of the championship over the final weekend of July.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“A really good, productive day from my side of the garage. It’s a great opportunity to get some extra laps, and to collect some data ahead of Donington GP next month.
“We went into the summer break on a really good note, with the Jack Sears win, so the aim is to come back at Croft in a few weeks and repeat that performance.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“This was definitely the most productive day of testing we’ve had so far this year. It’s a circuit we’ve raced at already, albeit on the National circuit, but it’s still given us a good baseline to build from.
“Without getting too technical and giving anything away, there are a few things we’ve been waiting to try until today, to give it the proper time and attention, and it’s helped us unlock a new avenue in the Vauxhall Astra.
“To finish the day in second is always a nice little boost, and we didn’t run with the hybrid system on board today, so as always, there’s definitely more time to come in the car and from myself.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“As the others have said – a good, solid day, with plenty of mileage and a lot of information for us to take away and dissect.
“Donington GP is quite a special circuit, for me, as a lot of my big career milestones have happened here. It’s always a pleasure to drive, and I’ve enjoyed wrestling it in a touring car.
“There are some things you can’t really fit into a free practice session on a race weekend, so extra days like these are very useful as we keep moving up the grid.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team arrived at the 2.2-mile Cheshire venue keen to close the gap at the summit of both the JST and Independent Teams’ standings, after a strong run of form for the trio of Andrew Watson, Aron Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble.
The ever-thorny issue of track limits in UK motorsport reared its head once more in qualifying. Watson set a lap good enough for fifth, and a spot in the coveted top-ten shootout, but the Northern Irishman had the time wiped for the smallest of transgressions.
In his absence, Taylor-Smith took up the gauntlet, and the Dubliner put in a stellar effort on his final flying run to put his Vauxhall Astra on the fourth row, in P8. Doble would start P16, with Watson eventually coming to rest in P17.
Race day dawned with plenty of optimism in the camp, especially with rain on the weather forecast later in the day.
Taylor-Smith’s push for honours, however, would be ended abruptly in the opening race. The 33-year-old was in the battle for eighth spot heading into the final lap but was unceremoniously dumped out of the contest by an out-of-control Daniel Rowbottom.
The NAPA Ford suffered brake issues heading into Druids, and after skirting the grass on the inside of the apex slammed into the Astra, pushing Taylor-Smith off and into the barriers on the outside at high-speed.
The whole team put in a stellar effort to repair Aron’s stricken car for the second contest, a mere 90 minutes later, but it would be a tall order for Taylor-Smith to go on and add to the points scored by Doble and Watson in the opener, the duo taking the chequered flag in P13 and P15.
The pair repeated their points-scoring exploits in the second race, this time P12 and P13. It also set up a final-race shootout for the Jack Sears honours, with a healthy gap to the next-best challenger. Taylor-Smith set about making amends, and a series of boisterous passes promoted him to P19.
Had the weather stayed true to the forecast, it may well have been a different story in the final race. As it was, all three cars had to line up on the unfavoured Hard compound Goodyear tyre, with a tall order to add to their respective points tallies in a tightly-packed midfield.
They rose to the occasion well, with Watson able to sneak the final points-paying position in P15. A last-lap power steering failure for Doble left him P22 and would crucially hand the JST honours for Oulton to Watson.
The pair have both closed considerably on current class leader, the top three now blanketed by just ten points. Their efforts have also promoted the team to second spot in the Independent Teams’ standings, the gap to the top now 35 points.
The UK’s premier touring car series now heads into a six-week summer hiatus, with Croft Circuit in Yorkshire due to host the next three rounds on 29-30 July.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m delighted to win the Jack Sears Trophy here at Oulton Park, it’s great to be back.
“I had a bit of a scrappy qualifying and made the job a little bit more difficult for myself today, but I’m really happy with how I drove through the pack and scored some nice overall points too.
“The Vauxhall Astra was great, and the whole team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing performed well. You can’t take podiums and trophies for granted, so I’m delighted for myself and the team, and we move forward to Croft after the summer break.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“We arrived at Oulton with a lot of potential, and I think we definitely made the most of that, as far as qualifying goes. I was really happy to make the top-ten shootout, and I think, in an ideal scenario, the weekend would have come to us from there.
“Unfortunately, I got taken out in race one by Daniel having an accident at Druids. Whatever the reason for it, we’ve had a chat and I’ve accepted the apology, and I do appreciate him coming to speak to me about it.
“But that was effectively ‘it’ for us, then. I’m so proud of the team for getting the car turned around for race two, and hopefully a bit of an overtaking show was a fitting reward!
“We’d hoped the forecasted rain would hit for race three and give us a bit of a boost, but it wasn’t to be, and then more contact forced us to park up.
“It’s definitely one that falls under ‘frustrating’, but I’m big enough and bold enough to lick my wounds, process the weekend and start analysing where we go from here to keep progressing at Croft after the break.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“It’s been a very steady, very satisfying weekend for me at Oulton Park. We’ve scored a lot of good points overall, and in the Jack Sears, and if not for an unlucky failure in the last race, I think we’d have been up there fighting with Andrew for top spot.
“It’s clear to me, the progress we’re making round-on-round. We’ve gone from the back of the midfield at the start of the season, to now being firmly in the fight at the front of that group.
“I’m looking forward to a bit of a break, and then we’ll go again at the tyre test, and when we get back to racing at Croft. Thanks to the whole team for their hard work this weekend.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“It would be extremely easy to have gotten deflated after the first race, and everything that happened with Aron, but I’m so pleased with how the team rallied as a group and came together.
“Of course, full credit to Andrew and Mikey for bringing home a good haul of points in his absence, and also getting us a nice moment on the podium with a Jack Sears win, but it’s been a real team effort.
“It’s a nice note to head into the ‘break’ on – I say that, because this sport never stands still, and we’ve already got plenty to debrief on back at base and look to implement at Croft.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“Just to echo Martin’s comments, I’m so proud of the effort put in by the whole team. We’ve had a few occasions so far this year that have been testing, but the group passed again with flying colours, and to repair Aron’s car in such a short space of time is a real testament to the talent within the team.
“On-track, it’s important to celebrate the highs as well as discuss the lows, and Andrew and Mikey were fantastic again today. It’s great to see them both get their elbows out and fight for every point, and they’ve both got a strong haul of overall and JST points to show for their efforts.
“Thanks to everybody who keeps this re-building project moving along at such a steady pace – our partners, the drivers, their engineers, mechanics, the hospitality team – the list goes on.
“Hopefully we all have a chance to decompress, and then come back for the second half of the year ready to keep pushing on.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon outfit stand on the cusp of a return to the overall podium in the UK’s premier touring car series, after a continued string of front-running performances, including last time out at Thruxton.
The team’s trio of Mikey Doble, Andrew Watson and Aron Taylor-Smith put all three Vauxhall Astras inside the top ten around the high-speed Hampshire venue in qualifying, from which Doble scored a Jack Sears Trophy win and Taylor-Smith a notable hat-trick of top-ten finishes in race trim on Sunday.
A driveshaft problem on the grid consigned Watson to a pit lane start, but the Northern Irishman put in a gutsy showing to claw back some of the deficit across the three races, culminating in points in the finale.
It marked another step on the team’s gradual return to front-running form in the BTCC and cemented their status in the race for both the Independent Teams and Jack Sears Trophy championships, with the 2.2-mile Island layout at Oulton Park set to host the next chapter this coming weekend.
Rapidly changing gradients and tight, technical corners are the name of the game at Oulton, all traits which should play into the Astra’s favourable chassis set up.
It’s a circuit that holds fond memories for Taylor-Smith in particular, as the scene of his second career BTCC win back in 2014. Doble also has a strong recent track record in Cheshire, with two wins as part of his title-winning Ginetta GT5 campaign in 2022.
Tyre strategy will be key once again this weekend, with the ‘Soft’ and ‘Hard’ Goodyear compounds available. Drivers will use the softer rubber in two races, with the more durable Hard tyre the ‘odd one out’.
Following two practice sessions, competitive action begins with qualifying live on ITVX at 15:40 (all times BST) on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday features the usual bill of three televised races, with Race 1 at 12:17 live on ITV1. The broadcast switches to ITV4 for the remaining two contests, with lights out at 14:40 and 17:25 respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m really looking forward to Oulton Park this weekend. As a driver, it’s one of the most exciting circuits we go to on the calendar. There are some great undulations and you’ve got to be on your game to be quick around there.
“We haven’t tested there, so we’ll have to find our feet a little bit in practice, but the car is in a fairly good window, we just need to make some adjustments from Thruxton, which is a very different type of circuit.
“Every weekend I’m learning, and the team are making improvements. I’m loving the championship and having a great time and looking to score some nice points this time out.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Heading to Oulton, we have our heads held high after such a strong team performance in general at Thruxton. When you look at our results this year, each weekend we’ve been gaining more and more momentum.
“In my opinion, this championship is all about having that momentum. So, to be heading to Oulton – a track where I’ve won in the past – is a really nice feeling, especially off the back of a strong Thruxton for myself, personally.
“I think we can capitalise on the strength of the Astra’s chassis around the tight, twisty sections. Having the weekend on Soft tyres, with the option being a Hard, will really spice the order up a bit and could play to our favour – we’ve had great pace on both compounds so far this year.
“The aspiration is to get to the very front, go a few better than Thruxton and put on a good show!”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’m feeling extremely positive heading into Oulton Park this weekend. The team is in a great place at the moment and our confidence is high after three points scoring finishes at Thruxton last time out.
I took two victories at Oulton Park last season, and it is a track I always enjoy racing at. I am looking forward to seeing if we can emulate our outstanding qualifying performance from the last round and prove ourselves as regular top ten runners.
We are currently sitting third in the Jack Sears Trophy, just 11 points back, so one of the main focuses on my side of the garage will be to close the gap to the front"
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“There are certainly a lot of inherent traits in the Vauxhall Astra as a car that should be well-suited to Oulton Park as a circuit, which is a good baseline to work from.
“As Andrew highlighted, we didn’t visit Oulton during pre-season, so a lot of free practice will be spent fine-tuning the car to give all three drivers a good shot in qualifying.
“From there, they’ve shown plenty of times so far this season that they can get their elbows out and mix it with the best. Momentum is absolutely key, and we’ve got it on our side at the moment, so it would be great to get that next milestone on the journey back to the front ticked off with a podium.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“I think it says a lot for where the car is at the moment and how the team is performing that our drivers turn up to each meeting in such a positive frame of mind.
“Oulton Park hasn’t always been the happiest hunting ground for us as a team in the past, but with every race meeting this year, we’re unlocking more and more performance, so there’s every chance that can switch around.
“It’s all part of a bigger process. I’m sure it’ll be a weekend to enjoy, and we can’t wait to welcome all of our valued partners and guests trackside to soak it all in with the team.”
]]>After a steady stream of points finishes in recent rounds, the team arrived at the 2.4-mile Hampshire venue in a buoyant mood, with the Vauxhall Astra boasting a strong track record at the UK’s fastest circuit in previous years.
That proved to be the case once again in qualifying, with the team beating a whole host of the championship’s household names to put all three cars inside the top ten.
The hero of the hour was undoubtedly Mikey Doble, the rookie a stellar fourth for the opening race, with team-mates Andrew Watson and Aron Taylor-Smith locking out the fourth row in seventh and eighth respectively.
From there, despite losing some ground, Doble and Taylor-Smith put on a thrilling display for the watching crowd, plus the live ITV4 television cameras. Heading into the closing laps, a four-car train headed by Doble ran nose-to-tail contesting eighth through 11th.
Taylor-Smith, at the back of the quartet, was able to take full advantage, sweeping by Ricky Collard’s Toyota, then lunging Adam Morgan’s BMW into the complex, to claim ninth, just behind Doble at the chequered flag.
A driveshaft problem on the way to the grid would force Watson to start from the pit lane, but the Northern Irishman put in a stellar shift to rise back through the field to P18 and gave himself every chance of salvaging some points across the remaining two races.
The second contest proved to be a bit more of a stalemate, in comparison, with Taylor-Smith enjoying a steady run to eighth spot and – for the second event in succession – the coveted reverse grid draw.
Doble banked valuable points towards his Jack Sears Trophy effort in P14, with Watson climbing another two spots to P16 in his repaired challenger.
Starting on the third row after benefiting in part from the draw, Taylor-Smith took a season-best result of sixth in the finale, the 33-year-old enjoying a prolonged stint up front as part of the lead pack.
Watson and Doble would both also progress to P13 and P14, marking a triple points score for the team, and also earning Doble the Jack Sears Trophy prize for the weekend as a whole.
Leaving Thruxton, CarStore Power Maxed Racing remain third in the Independent Teams’ standings. Notably, Doble’s strong weekend moves him up to the same position in the Jack Sears Trophy race, just 11 points shy of the leader.
The 2023 BTCC season resumes at Oulton Park’s Island circuit on 17-18 June.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“Obviously it wasn’t the results we’d hoped for, especially after such a strong showing in qualifying. I think we’ve definitely proved in my rookie season what I can do.
“As soon as I came out of the pit lane, I knew there was an issue, so we nursed the car round to the grid and the team found a problem on the driveshaft. Everybody did such an amazing job to get us back out there, with about five minutes to finish the job.
“An incredible job by the team, and I was able to get back out and gain ten spots, which gave us a chance for the rest of the day. From there, we battled through nicely and scored some good points, overall and for the Jack Sears.
“It’s a shame, because we should have delivered more today, but mechanical problems happen and it’s nobody’s fault. Lots learned, and plenty of positives to take to Oulton Park next.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“It’s been a great day, with three top-ten finishes in what is widely regarded as the pinnacle of touring car racing worldwide. We know this is a strong circuit for the Astra, but I think regardless of that, we’ve also been able to keep moving the package forward into a real sweet spot.
“It’s certainly no small effort, and sixth in particular during the last race is something to be really proud of. This year, for me, is all about just being back in the fight at the front, and we certainly took another important step towards that this weekend.
“But it’s about more than me, and I absolutely love being able to reward the guys and girls at CarStore Power Maxed Racing for all their hard work. They’ve had a rough time in the last few years, and it’s great to see everyone upbeat and enjoying their racing.
“This is the most enjoyable year of racing I’ve had in probably about ten years. I think there’s a bright future ahead, and I can’t wait to keep the momentum rolling when we rock up at Oulton in a couple of weeks and see what we can do.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“What a fantastic weekend it has been for me and the team all round. Having never tested the car at Thruxton prior to FP1, I had to make the most of Saturday’s practice.
“I knew early on that we had a fast car underneath us and we managed to make it count when it mattered. To qualify on the second row of the grid, ahead of multiple series champions in only my fourth BTCC weekend has to be my best achievement of the season so far!
“Race 1 the two BMWs jumped me off the line, but I managed to hold my ground well in the top 10 with a thrilling final 3 laps to hold onto 8th. Race 2 I had some contact early doors which hurt my car slightly causing me to slip back to 14th.
“After two Jack Sears wins so far, the goal was to win the overall honours for the day and with another 14th overall and P2 in the Jack Sears it was good enough to achieve just that. It was a fantastic feeling to stand on the podium spraying champagne after what has been a memorable weekend”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“Given it’s track record, we always expected this would be one of the strongest circuits on the calendar for the Vauxhall Astra, so it’s nice to capitalise on that and score some good points this weekend.
“I can’t say enough about the work the team did on Andrew’s car before race one. To fix the driveshaft in a little over five minutes, and still give him a car with which he could attack and make progress, is as much a testament to our team members, as it is the Astra.
“And from there, as far as we’re concerned, it’s all good news. Plenty of points, and a great moment for Mikey on the podium as the Jack Sears Trophy winner.
“We’ll keep chipping away on the performance side and see what we can achieve at Oulton Park.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“Overall, it’s been a strong weekend for the entire team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing, and we’re certainly leaving with our heads held high.
“I sit in on a lot of the debriefs after each session, and the atmosphere at the moment is all positive. There’s a great harmony between the drivers and the engineers, and it’s really working to help extract the maximum we can from the car going forward.
“Long may that continue, and we’re all looking ahead to Oulton Park in two weeks’ time. A huge thanks to the team, both in the garage and looking after our valued guests in hospitality, for all their efforts.”
]]>Having banked a solid haul of points on their most recent outing in the UK’s premier tin-top series at Snetterton, the Bidford-on-Avon team make the journey south looking to close the gap at the top of the Independent Teams and Jack Sears Trophy standings.
Aron Taylor-Smith was among the stars of the live ITV4 broadcast last time out and will be looking to write similar headlines on a happy hunting ground for the Irishman in years gone by.
His team-mates Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble didn’t quite get the opportunity to showcase their pace after a truncated qualifying session left them back in the pack, but both will be aiming to repeat their top-ten form from earlier in the campaign.
The 2.4-mile Hampshire venue, once an RAF base and still an active airfield to this day, offers one of the most daunting challenges for drivers on the ten-event BTCC schedule.
The team’s three CarStore-backed Vauxhall Astras will spend around 80% of each lap at full throttle, with a top speed in excess of 140mph reached at the circuit’s fastest points, as well as an average speed of over 100mph across the entire lap.
Two braking zones also offer plenty of overtaking opportunities, particularly on the long climb up Woodham Hill into the Club chicane at the end of the lap.
It’s a layout that places an emphasis on a settled chassis, comfortable with rotating at high-speed, something the Astra has always excelled at. Recent results prove the theory, including a victory in the hands of Josh Cook and multiple podiums for the likes of Jason Plato and Rob Collard in years gone by.
But nothing is a given in one of the most hotly-contested BTCC campaigns in recent years. Qualifying kicks off the competitive action at 15:25 (BST) on Saturday, after two practice sessions.
Sunday features the usual triple header of ITV4-televised action, with lights out at 11:45, 14:35 and 17:20 respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“After a tricky weekend at Snetterton, it’s time to reset and go again. I’m looking forward to being back out in the CarStore Power Maxed Racing Astra at Thruxton, with the aim of getting back in the mix for the Jack Sears Trophy.
“Qualifying will be important to start us off on the front foot, and from there, it’s a circuit I enjoy and I believe we can be competitive at.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“I feel as though we’re finally into our groove, heading to Thruxton. We know what the car wants, what’s working on it and I feel we’re now going to a circuit that, historically, has been very strong for the Astra.
“I’m confident that we can going into this weekend challenging right at the front, and I’m a firm believer that this will be our most competitive weekend to date.
“I’ve always been fond of Thruxton, since getting my first BTCC pole back in 2015. For whatever reason, it’s always been a good venue for me. I’m going there with more confidence than ever in what we can achieve, and the whole team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing are doing a superb job.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’m looking forward to going back to one of my favourite tracks in the country at Thruxton.
“I’m feeling very happy with what we’ve accomplished so far this season, and with the Astras strong history at Thruxton, I’m hopeful we can take things to the next level.
“Hopefully we’ll have another dry weekend, and we can produce some more great performances and enjoy a good battle.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“Thruxton is a circuit that plays into the chassis capabilities of the Vauxhall Astra, but the competition has been so tough this season, so we can’t rely on historical performances as any guarantee.
“We’ve continued to work hard since Snetterton to keep chipping away and unearthing a bit more performance, and the drivers are coming along really well too. Next weekend will be another step forward, I’m sure.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“As a team, we always look forward to Thruxton. It’s a fantastic circuit, one that really puts an emphasis on bravery, not just skill, to get a lap time.
“We’ve had plenty of fond memories around there, and it would be great to repeat that, but nothing comes easy in the BTCC, and we’ll need to be on our game from the get-go.
“Regardless, the racing around here is always a superb spectacle, and we can’t wait to welcome our partners and guests trackside for a great weekend’s entertainment.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon team arrived at the 2.97-mile Norfolk venue looking to recover the front-running form the team displayed at the Donington Park season opener, after a subsequent, more frustrating trip to Brands Hatch a fortnight ago.
After placing all three cars within the top ten in practice, qualifying proved to be a frustrating affair for the team’s trio of Aron Taylor-Smith, Andrew Watson, and Mikey Doble, with a combination of track limits and persistent red-flag stoppages hampering their best efforts.
Taylor-Smith was highest-placed in 12th, and the Irishman got his elbows out in race trim to advance forward and round out the top ten in the opening race, just shy of an Independent race victory. Doble emerged on top of an inter-team battle with Watson over 17th and 18th spots.
Once again in race two, Taylor-Smith proved to be the star, defending like a lion on slower, medium compound tyres against a whole host of the championship’s chief protagonists to bank more points in 12th.
The 33-year-old’s antics were the focus of ITV4’s live television coverage for a fair majority of the 12-lap contest, and crucially earned the team a spot in the coveted reverse grid draw. Watson made it ‘one-all’ against Doble, the pair taking the chequered flag 18th and 19th respectively.
But luck fell against the CarStore-backed squad on this occasion and, with all three cars now running the Hard tyre, with a 2.5-second per lap deficit to the quicker compounds, it would be an uphill task to salvage anything from the finale.
Taylor-Smith fought hard to hold on for a hat-trick of points but contact from behind pitched the Vauxhall Astra into a spin at Williams, and after striking the barrier, the four-time race winner was forced to limp back to the pits, and into an early retirement from the race.
Doble and Watson battled on in a closely-packed midfield, with the former ending the weekend amongst the points in P15, Watson just behind in P17.
As a result of the weekend, CarStore Power Maxed Racing sit third in the Independent Teams standings, with Doble and Watson now fourth and fifth outright in the Jack Sears Trophy stakes.
Another quick turn-around means the team will return to action at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on 3-4 June.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“The weekend started quite positively; we had the pace yesterday to qualify inside the top ten. But track limits scuppered that, and we struggled running back in the pack today.
“In the last race, on the Hard tyre, the ambient temperature dropped a bit, so I think we just missed the window. It was just about staying on track and scoring some Jack Sears Trophy points.
“A difficult weekend, but we’re still feeling positive. The team did everything right and ran well, there were no mistakes from that side, so fair play. We move on to Thruxton.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“I feel we got everything we could out of the CarStore Power Maxed Racing Astra this weekend, and I’m particularly pleased with the performance in both races one and two.
“It’s always nice to be battling against the manufacturer-supported programmes, and to put on the show that we did. I particularly enjoyed race two, it was nice to be right in the thick of the action from the start to the end.
“Race three was just unfortunate contact from another driver, which put us out of the race. There’s nothing I could have done to avoid it. It was a shame because the car felt very strong, and I think we could have challenged for a top ten.
“But that is life, after reviewing the judicials, there’s nothing more I could have done. Overall, I’m very happy with our performance.
“In my opinion, we were strong from the get-go all weekend, which bodes well heading to a historically strong circuit for the Astra in Thruxton. We’ve shown our potential across all three races, and we can build on this at the next round.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“It was nice to get an entire weekend in the dry conditions under my belt. The car felt really good, and I’m really pleased with how the team, and I are working to develop it and keep pushing forward.
“That was reflected in my best qualifying of the season yesterday, and in the races today, we definitely held our own out there.
“The first two races were steady, we kept out of trouble and put a good showing in. Race 3 was definitely the highlight; against all odds, on the Hard tyre, the car felt really good and we narrowly missed out on being the top Jack Sears Trophy scorer.
“It was, however, good to come away with a points finish in the last race, and it gives us something to build on next time out at Thruxton.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“In some respects, it was a case of ‘what could have been’, but it’s a mark of how far the team has come in such a short space of time that we are scoring points consistently, even on the tougher weekends.
“The results definitely don’t reflect the pace in the cars, but it was a messy qualifying session, with red flags and so on, and once you’re in the pack, it’s very difficult in such a closely-packed field to make any real progress through from there.
“But the team and drivers performed really well to extract the most we could from the situation, and we can go home tonight comforted in the knowledge that we’re in the right ballpark, and one day soon, the progress we’ve been making will come good.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“There’s no hiding that we’re a bit disappointed to only leave Snetterton this weekend with a handful of points.
“But, to put a positive spin on that, I’d rather know we have more pace in the car and just need the stars to align for us, than be in a situation where we’re left scratching our heads.
“That isn’t the case at all, and the entire team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing continue to astound me with their hard work, dedication, and positive attitude as we continue to re-build the team back to being a race-winning outfit on a regular basis.
“Thruxton is a circuit that should suit the car, so the important thing here is to take the points, chalk the weekend off as another mark on the development front and keep the momentum rolling to the next one.
“A final word of thanks to our hospitality team as well, who continue to deliver an excellent experience for all of our valued partners, sponsors and team guests on a race day.”
]]>After a bright start to the 2023 campaign at Donington Park last month, the Bidford-on-Avon team’s recent visit to Brands Hatch put a dent in the team’s aspirations to win both the Independent Teams title and Jack Sears Trophy a fortnight ago.
A myriad of external factors, including problems on and off-track, conspired to limit the team’s three Vauxhall Astra challengers to a solitary points finish, courtesy of Aron Taylor-Smith, but the team arrives at Snetterton’s 300 circuit refreshed and ready to begin the fightback.
The 2.99-mile venue offers an ‘all-rounder’ challenge, with flowing, technical sections that are well-suited to the inherent chassis capabilities of the Astra, as well as two long straights that offer ample overtaking opportunities.
The team has one previous podium finish at the venue – with Josh Cook back in 2018 – but will be looking to add to that tally with the ‘new-look’ 2023 line-up of Taylor-Smith and promising rookies Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble.
Saturday features two practice sessions to help the trio get dialled in, before the all-important qualifying session at 15:40 (BST). For this weekend, the format reverts to the previous 30-minute timed session to set the grid for the opening race, with no top-ten shootout as at Donington and Brands Hatch.
Headlining the bill on Sunday are three, ITV4-televised races, with lights out scheduled for 11:25, 14:35 and 17:15 respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“Looking ahead to Snetterton, I’m looking forward to the weekend and aiming to get things back on track. After a good start to the season, we lost out a bit at Brands Hatch, in terms of points, and it was a difficult weekend all round.
“I know the team at CarStore Power Maxed Racing have been working hard since to make sure the Vauxhall Astra is in good shape, and we’re back in the mix at the sharp end this weekend.
“I haven’t been to Snetterton in a long time, so I’m looking forward to going round there again, and getting back out in the car. I’m really enjoying my time in the BTCC so far – even just the number of races per weekend is fantastic.
“My confidence is only growing every time, and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve this weekend. Scoring points and getting back to the top of the Jack Sears Trophy is definitely the ambition.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Heading to Snetterton, I feel like we’re in a really good position with our CarStore Power Maxed Racing Astras.
“We had an excellent first race weekend across the team, and even at Brands amongst some misfortune, we showed the potential that the car has, especially in qualifying trim.
“I think we would have had the pace to challenge on race day if it weren’t for a few issues, which were outside the team’s control – but that’s life. The short, two-week turnaround is always nice, because you can identify the areas to improve and then almost immediately apply that out on track.
“Snetterton has always been a kind circuit for myself, I’ve had a handful of podiums there, challenged for wins, so I’m confident it suits my driving style. It’s also a good circuit for the Astra, historically, so there’s no reason why we can’t be challenging up front and enjoying a better weekend.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’m really looking forward to getting this underway at Snetterton this weekend, and to continue building on what has been a positive start to my BTCC career.
“I feel increasingly confident in what I’m doing in the car, and off-track within the team to continue pushing us further up the grid.
“Snetterton is a circuit I really enjoy driving, and one that I’ve had numerous successes at in the past. I think it’s somewhere that always produces great racing, and I can’t wait to be in the thick of it again this weekend.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“We had a lot to unpack from Brands Hatch. As there always is, whether you’re winning or not, there were some things as a team we could take away and analyse to make sure we come back at Snetterton this weekend in a stronger position, which we’ve gone through.
“But that said, a lot of what happened at Brands was down to external factors out of our control. When that happens, all we can do as a unit is stay positive, keep gelling together and keep working towards the next event.
“We’re on such a good trajectory between the drivers and the engineering team, and we have good people within the camp all keen to get back trackside and showcase what these Astras can do at Snetterton.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“It would have been really easy for the entire team to get demoralised after a tough trip to Brands Hatch, but I’m delighted to say that hasn’t been the case – if anything, it’s given everybody a bit of extra motivation to get to Snetterton and bounce back straight away.
“It’s a long season in the BTCC, and a very competitive field – put simply, it’s just not possible to be at the front every weekend, and every team will have it’s ‘off weekend’ at some point. A lot of things happen you can’t legislate for, and once in a while, something will sting. That’s how the sport goes!
“Hopefully that’s our bad luck out of the way now, and we can get back to mixing it at the sharp end of the field at Snetterton this weekend.”
]]>Buoyed by a starring role at the season opener two weeks’ prior, the Bidford-on-Avon-based team made the journey to the iconic 1.2-mile Kent venue looking to extend their advantage atop the Independent Teams and Jack Sears Trophy standings.
After some struggles in practice, the team recovered well and came within 0.090 seconds of making the coveted top-ten shootout in qualifying for the second weekend in a row.
As it was, leading driver Aron Taylor-Smith slotted in P12, with Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble P20 and P22 respectively in a session punctuated by red flag stoppages.
In race trim on Sunday, luck seemingly deserted the Vauxhall Astra trio. Taylor-Smith was able to salvage the team’s only points of the weekend by maintaining 12th in the opening race, but suffered engine problems in the second contest, which in turn side-lined him for the remainder of the day.
Watson was powerless to avoid a multi-car shunt at Clark Curve during the first race. A superb repair job by the team put the Northern Irishman back on the grid just two hours later for race two, in which Watson gave a glimpse of the car’s potential by gaining four places from the back.
But a wide moment at Graham Hill Bend filled his front radiator with grass and necessitated a trip to the pit lane in race three, ending the 28-year-old’s hopes of further forward momentum.
Mikey Doble enjoyed a steady climb through the field across the day, as he continues to acclimatise well to life in the UK’s premier tin-top series. The Brands Hatch local moved forward three spots to P19 in the opener, which he then followed up with P18, then P16 in the second and third contests respectively.
The team slip to third in the Independent Teams Championship leaving Brands Hatch, albeit just nine points off the summit. Watson and Doble are similarly well-placed to bounce back next time out, when the BTCC visits Snetterton on 20-21 May.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
"This weekend was tough, from start to finish. Conditions on Saturday were tricky, and it was all about timing, which we got wrong in qualifying. But in those scenarios, it’s about luck as much as anything.
“We had a lap that would have put us much further up the grid, but we just missed it with the red flag. Starting down in the pack was always going to be difficult, but we made a good start in race one, before I got caught up in somebody else’s incident.
“There was quite a lot of damage to the car, but the team did an amazing job to turn it around, which was incredible to watch. We got back out, but we didn’t really have enough time to set the car up as we wanted, so we struggled a bit. But we got out and scored some Jack Sears points.
“But it was a weekend to forget, so time for a re-think and then we’ll re-group at Snetterton."
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“On weekends like this, all we can do is take the positives. We were nine hundredths off making the top-ten shootout, so we can safely say we’ve unlocked a little bit more one-lap pace in the Vauxhall Astra.
“All was going well in the first race, but there was a small component failure on the car – nothing the team could have controlled or foreseen – and that limited how much I could progress from there. Even to come home with the points is something I’m really happy about.
“Race two started quite well, but as early as the opening lap, I could feel something was astray with the engine. From deep-diving into the data, we had two separate issues, both of which unfortunately brought about an untimely end to said engine.
“The team did all they could to get me back out, but with only an hour turnaround, it wasn’t to be. But we have a very fast car, and I know we can build on that. It feels worse when you’re at the back thinking ‘we’re struggling for pace’, but this isn’t that. The stars just didn’t align for us today, and that’s life, but we’ll re-group and come back stronger in two weeks’ time.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“It’s been a tough weekend for the team, but on a personal note for me, there were a lot of good things to take away from it.
“Things didn’t quite go our way in qualifying, which meant I had work to do in the races. We chipped away at the car setup during Races 1 and 2, all whilst moving up through the field.
“Race 3 was the best the Vauxhall Astra had handled all weekend, and we just missed out on points by one place. It was a real pleasure to be right in the thick of the midfield battle, and also to get three finishes under my belt, all of which has helped move me up in the Independent and Jack Sears standings.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“In general this weekend, we’ve been challenged with a range of issues. A lot of things have come at us from all angles, but I’m really proud of how the team have worked tirelessly to overcome each one.
“There are a lot of positives, both on track – such as Aron’s qualifying performance – and off it, with the whole garage doing a phenomenal job to repair Andrew’s car with only a couple of hours between races.
“We’ll debrief back at HQ and analyse what we can improve upon for Snetterton.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“We have to keep days like this in perspective. Of course, it feels a bit deflating, but that’s only because we know what a fantastic package we have underneath us, and the potential it has.
“That feeling of togetherness as a team is only going to be reinforced by some difficult times, and there’s a lot more to be learnt in this sport from the low moments than the high.
“Everybody in the team continued to work and operate at a high standard throughout the weekend, even when things didn’t go our way – case in point was Andrew’s incident in race one and getting him back out on the grid.
“That gives me enormous pride, and I know we’ll be back out fighting at Snetterton.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon-based team made a strong start to the 2023 campaign at Donington Park a fortnight ago, qualifying for the top-ten shootout through Andrew Watson.
He and team-mates Aron Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble then all scored top-ten finishes in race trim on an eventful weekend in the East Midlands to round out one of the team’s strongest opening rounds to-date.
The flying start marked a notable return to form for the Vauxhall squad, and the team arrives at Brands Hatch’s 1.2-mile Indy circuit at the top of both the Independent Teams Championship and the Jack Sears Trophy, courtesy of Watson.
It’s a venue that holds fond memories for the team, having been the stage of a dramatic maiden victory back in 2018, with Senna Proctor gambling correctly on slick tyres to rise from 27th to win on a damp but drying surface.
More recently, it was also the scene of the team’s last victory, a controlled drive out front from two-time champion, Jason Plato.
The Indy circuit, by its short, sharp nature often provides ultra-close racing, and qualifying can be crucial, with the entire grid often lapping within the same second. Finding a space in traffic to get a clear lap in can often be the difference between starting up front, or in the midfield.
Sunday’s triple header of races are scheduled to get underway at 11:50, 14:30 and 17:15 respectively with live, free-to-air television coverage available on ITV4.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m looking forward to Brands Hatch this weekend. Compared to the opening round, we now know that we should be fighting inside that top ten, so that gives us a clear target in mind to aim for and build towards.
“We know we can be near the front, which is great. The team are in confident spirits, so there’s no reason we can’t pick up our momentum from Donington and go even better this time around.
“It’s a different compound of tyre this weekend too, the hybrid system will come into play a bit more and level out the field too, so it should be an action-packed weekend. There’s no reason it can’t be another great weekend, results-wise.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“I’m beyond excited to continue this journey CarStore Power Maxed Racing and I are on at Brands Hatch this weekend.
“We had a very successful opening weekend for the entire team, and I think we can carry that momentum on this time around and be even closer to the front.
“Brands has always been a kind circuit to me in the past. We’ve had a handful of podiums there and challenged for a few wins, so I know I can hit the ground running.
“I think we’ve got the wind in our sails, and I’m heading in full of optimism, of hope for what we can achieve, and I’m just looking forward to being in the fight again.
“We’ve continued to focus on developing the car even since Donington, so we should be in a good position, and I can’t wait to put on a show on ITV4 this Sunday.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“Brands Hatch is my home circuit, so it’s going to be very special to race in front of my local crowd this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the car and I can deliver around a track I have had a lot of success at in previous years and other categories. It’s probably my favourite circuit on the calendar, so I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“We’ve been quietly confident all winter that we would arrive at Donington with a competitive package but seeing that unfold in actuality has given the entire team a massive boost as we turn our focus to Brands Hatch.
“It’s always been a strong circuit for the car, and we have three drivers who all have good track records here and felt positive during pre-season testing.
“Making incremental improvements is the name of the game in this championship, with how tightly-packed the field is. That’s no more apparent than at Brands, with such a short layout. It’s going to be competitive, but we’re all up for the fight.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“The number of positive messages we received, in person and on social media, at Donington was a real testament to how much everybody in the team has worked to put us back in a position to be competitive in the BTCC.
“It’s important we stay grounded, don’t get too carried away and keep chipping away at the bigger teams. Brands Hatch plays to the strengths of our Astras, and the drivers are all feeling settled and confident, so on paper, it should be another positive step towards that goal.”
]]>The Bidford-on-Avon-based outfit were the class of the independent runners across the opening three rounds, with Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble picking up class victories on debut, plus two charging drives into the top ten by experienced contender Aron Taylor-Smith.
It marked a superb return to form for the Vauxhall Astras, as the team looks to build back to winning ways in 2023.
Race 1: Watson becomes an instant hit
If his storming drive into the top-ten qualifying shootout had turned a few heads in Watson’s direction, his follow-up performance during the opening race will have converted a legion of new fans to the Northern Irishman’s cause.
Starting ninth, Watson made light work to gain a couple of spots in the opening exchanges, before sailing down the inside of Adam Morgan at the Craner Curves for sixth.
His charge continued, the next victim Ricky Collard’s Toyota at Redgate, before finally rising to fourth with a firm move on pole-sitter Dan Rowbottom at the last chicane.
Although the 28-year-old caught and gave reigning champion Tom Ingram a hard time for the final spot on the podium, a low-risk opportunity to pass never materialised, and he settled for fourth, and an independent victory on debut.
Mirroring Watson’s example, Taylor-Smith was another man on a mission. The Irishman was out of position after red flags hampered his best lap in qualifying, but he made amends in race trim to rise from the midfield to ninth.
On his first start in the BTCC, Doble dropped back initially, but rallied well, and the reigning Ginetta GT5 and BMW Compact Cup champion made a few passes of his own to take the chequered flag in P20.
Race 2: Doble’s gamble returns high-stakes reward
It would be Doble who hit the front, however, when changeable weather conditions struck Donington in the lead up to the second race of the day.
The 24-year-old opted to pit for wet weather tyres after the opening few laps, whilst Watson and Taylor-Smith matched the front-runners in staying out on slicks.
The conditions worsened, leaving the slick-shod runners as sitting ducks whilst those on wets tore through the field. Doble duly capitalised, setting up a race to the flag with Nicolas Hamilton for the Independent race win.
Lap after lap, the two ran nose to tail, before a dive to the inside at the final corner won Doble fifth on the road, and the class win, a remarkable feat in only his second start. Watson and Taylor-Smith eventually pitted and re-joined the fray to take P21 and P22 respectively.
Race 3: Taylor-Smith leads the charge
A topsy-turvy day ended with another swashbuckling drive from Taylor-Smith and Watson, the duo moving through from the back of the grid to add to the team’s points tally and cement the team’s status atop the Independent Teams’ Championship.
Further rain between the races left all cars on wet tyres, and the Astras came alive. Taylor-Smith and Watson steadily climbed the order, gaining 12 and 11 places respectively to finish ninth and twelfth.
The trio had run together for much of the race, but contact ruled Doble out prematurely, and the Caterham-based driver was forced to park up with damage.
A positive start as PMR continues to re-build…
With three rounds in the books, CarStore Power Maxed Racing is five points clear at the top of the Independent Teams’ standings, with Watson, Taylor-Smith and Doble running third, fourth and ninth in the equivalent competition for drivers.
In the Jack Sears Trophy, Watson is the clear leader leaving Donington Park, with Doble fifth despite that setback in race three.
Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit hosts the next event on 6-7 May.
View from the Drivers…
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m honestly over the moon with how this weekend has gone. We were hoping to be up there in the Jack Sears, so to be amongst the front runners overall is such a fantastic testament to how everybody at CarStore Power Maxed Racing is gelling together.
“It was particularly fun in that last race; I’d say it was my first ‘proper touring car race’, after the weather played a role in the first two. The car felt alive, I think we can have a lot of fun with this Vauxhall Astra this year.
“Huge thanks to the team, and I’m looking forward to getting to Brands Hatch.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“This has been a really strong start for the whole team. What we have is a really fantastic baseline with this car, and it’s clear the work we’ve put in over the winter is paying off in the performance we’ve had this weekend.
“A huge thanks to the whole team, my sponsors – everybody who is putting into this programme and helping us move up the grid. It was great to have a car underneath me today I could attack with, and really push. I think it’s going to be a very fun season ahead.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“There have been some highs and lows today, but without a doubt, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
“It’s all fantastic experience for me, and to come away with my first points, an independent win and something to really build on is as much as I could have asked for.
“We’re in a positive place across the board as a team, and a huge thanks to them for all their continued support to push us on. I can’t wait to pick it up again at Brands in a fortnight.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“It’s a very encouraging start to the new season. We were confident we’d made a step forward in performance over the winter, so it’s good to not only see that, but also to understand with even more clarity where we need to build next.
“The atmosphere in the camp is fantastic at the moment. Now we want to sustain that momentum, keep building and arrive at Brands Hatch, another circuit that should suit us, with an equally competitive car.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“This weekend has been a just reward for all the effort and commitment put in, by every member of the team over the winter.
“We have always known the Vauxhall Astra still has potential as a car and can compete at the very front in this championship. But these things don’t happen overnight, and this is the first step on a process that still has a way to go.
“But I couldn’t be prouder of what I’m seeing, in the workshop, at the circuit, every day. We have three fantastic drivers and it’s great to see us pushing on as a unit. This is a good start, and now we look to Brands for an equally good next step.”
]]>On debut, the experienced GT contender adapted quickly to his new Vauxhall Astra challenger to post the eighth fastest time in the initial half-hour session, earning Watson a spot in the coveted pole position shootout.
Against a host of championship stalwarts, the 28-year-old posted the ninth fastest time, giving the Northern Irishman a strong starting berth for the first three races of the new campaign tomorrow [23 April].
But for a red flag, team-mate Aron Taylor-Smith could well have joined Watson inside the top-ten, the Irishman within striking range and up on his fastest time before the session was curtailed early, with a car stranded in the gravel at Redgate.
Both he and series newcomer Mikey Doble, however, acquitted themselves well and will start 16th and 21st, and with every chance of fighting for points at the season-opening triple header.
For Watson and Doble, there is also the promise of Jack Sears Trophy silverware on offer, the duo starting on de-facto pole position and fourth within the class, eligible for drivers without a podium finish prior to the start of the season.
ITV4 will showcase all three races from the 1.96-mile Leicestershire circuit tomorrow, with the races starting at 11:30, 14:40 and 17:25 (BST) respectively.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“What an experience, today has been so much fun. We got into the top ten shootout as well, which I wasn’t expecting on the first go. It’s a massive bonus.
“Huge thanks to everyone in the team. They worked flat out through Easter and that shows with our performance out on track.
“The cars are in good shape for tomorrow, we’re in the mix and I’m looking forward to whatever it brings.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Overall, I’m happy with the day. This is probably the first qualifying sim I’ve done in the Astra, just because we’ve been prioritising other stuff during testing.
“We should have had both myself and Andrew inside the top ten. On my final run, when we started getting the car into the sweet spot, we produced a lap for P16, and on my next lap, we were already up on that again by two tenths, which would have seen us through, but for the red flag.
“But that’s life, and for a first session, I’m very happy. We have a very good base to go forward with tomorrow. I believe there’s some inclement weather due, which should help me even more. We have the potential to get stuck in in all three races.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’m really happy to get my first day in the BTCC under my belt. We’ve made consistent improvements to our lap times throughout the day, and as a result, I think we’ll be in the mix during the races.”
]]>The series, which gives fans a never-before-seen level of access and insight into the UK’s premier touring car category, selects a trio of stars – and their teams – to feature each season.
Camera crews will follow Watson across the full 10-event, 30-race BTCC campaign, starting this weekend at Donington Park, and also visit the Northern Irish talent away from the track to give viewers a sense of life in the fast lane.
Produced by award-winning production agency Momentum Social, the past three seasons have attracted over 3.5 million impressions, 850,000 video views and global viewer engagement from all four corners of the globe.
“I’m really excited to be starring in the next season of On the Limit,” says Watson.
“This is a huge career step for me, and an exciting new challenge. Hopefully, I can offer the fans a really unique insight into what it is like, not only competing at this level, but also coming into the BTCC as a rookie.
“A huge thanks to Kwik Fit for having me involved, and I look forward to watching the finished product – highs, lows, and everything in-between – when it comes out early next year.”
Now entering their ninth season competing in the BTCC, the documentary also gives fans a chance to get closer than ever before to CarStore Power Maxed Racing.
Team Principal Adam Weaver welcomed Watson’s inclusion and is looking ahead with optimism to the new season as the team continues to build back to its race-winning successes of previous years.
“Being a part of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship offers our fans the best level of coverage for any national series in the UK – but it isn’t always possible to show everything,” says Weaver.
“Having On the Limit in the garage with us in 2023 will, we hope, bring a whole new perspective on life in a race-winning BTCC team to everyone watching at home. It’s an exciting season ahead for us, with Andrew one of three new drivers, and we can’t wait to get going this weekend.”
]]>With a new season comes a fresh chapter for the multiple race-winning outfit, with the expansion to three cars, an all-new driver line-up, and a striking facelift to a livery that has become synonymous with fans of the UK’s premier tin-top series.
A blend of experience and up-and-coming talent behind the wheel is spearheaded by Aron Taylor-Smith, the four-time BTCC race winner making the switch to PMR in a bid to return to the sharp end of the grid.
Joining the Irishman is former sportscar ace Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble, the latter ready for his biggest career challenge to-date, and fresh from winning both the Ginetta GT5 and BMW Compact Cup titles in the same season.
Series rookies Watson and Doble will additionally have the Jack Sears Trophy honours to fight for, designed for drivers who enter the 2023 season without a BTCC podium to their name.
Their addition to the ranks, plus a few upgrades to the team’s ‘tried and tested’ Astras over the winter, have fuelled positivity within the camp as the CarStore-backed team plot a gradual return to the front of the grid.
In prospect this weekend is the first of two visits to Donington Park. Three action-packed races around the 1.96-mile National layout will lift the curtain on another 30-race BTCC season, with live and free-to-air television coverage available on ITV4.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“I’m really looking forward to getting the season started. It’s been quite a while since we announced the drive, so I’m itching to get stuck in and begin this new chapter of my career in the BTCC.
“The car is unlike anything I’ve ever driven before, and there’s a certain style of racing you need to master to be successful in the BTCC. But it’s an exciting process, testing has kicked everything off on a positive note, and I can’t wait to get going.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“I’m buzzing to get to Donington Park this weekend. It’s an exciting new chapter in my BTCC career and, after such a positive start with the team during testing, I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this year.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“I’ve definitely been most looking forward to this weekend. Racing in the BTCC is a long-held dream for me, so Donington Park this Sunday is a big milestone in my career.
“Having said that, it still boils down to all the fundamentals. It’s another car to learn, another championship to acclimatise to, and a grid of drivers that I want to ultimately be beating in the future, even if some are star names!”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“After a busy winter, it’s always exciting in the lead up to the first round of the new season. Everybody at HQ has been working tirelessly to extract the most from the cars, and to help our new driver line-up acclimatise, and I think all being said, we’re in good shape.
“Of course, at this level, the competition is always going to be fierce, but the main thing for us is that we continue to improve and chip away at the gap to the front of the field.
“Donington Park is a good, all-rounder circuit, and should give us a really good indication of where we are and where we can continue to build over the year ahead.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“This will be the team’s ninth season competing in the BTCC, and I still get the same buzz before the first round now, as I did then.
“It’s been a really strong winter for us. We’re delighted to continue our relationship with several of our key partners, including CarStore, Evans Halshaw, SellYourCar and Pendragon, as well as welcome a whole host of new ones to the team.
“It’s been an exciting pre-season on-track too. The drivers are gelling with the team and with the car, and everything is in place for an enjoyable and competitive year of racing ahead.”
]]>The team’s new-look driver line-up of Aron Taylor-Smith, Mikey Doble and Andrew Watson first made the trip to the London Golf Club in Kent last night [11 April] to meet the media, gather official photos and video content, and network ahead of the new season.
Brands Hatch then set the scene the following morning, as the team lifted the covers on a refreshed new livery for it’s three Vauxhall Astra challengers and enjoyed a full day of testing around the 1.2-mile Indy circuit.
In testing trim, the team showed good pace in both wet and dry conditions, with all three drivers in and around the top ten across six hours of running.
The official Season Launch also marked an early opportunity for the fans to get up close and personal with the stars – and their cars – with an autograph session and ‘meet and greet’ held over the lunch break.
The opening three rounds of the 2023 BTCC season take place over the weekend of 22-23 April at Donington Park, Leicestershire.
Andrew Watson (#11) said:
“It’s been a long winter of building up, so it’s really exciting to finally be here at Brands Hatch and launching the 2023 season with CarStore Power Maxed Racing.
“The liveries look fantastic, and it was great to get another opportunity to test and make some progress with the car before the opening rounds next week.
“I’m feeling really positive and can’t wait to get to Donington now and begin my first season in touring cars.”
Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said:
“Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I was this excited ahead of a BTCC season.
“It’s always a big moment in pre-season when everybody assembles for the Season Launch, and a great chance for us to show off the new livery on our Vauxhall Astras, which frankly is stunning.
“Testing was another step forward for us too in mixed conditions, and we’ll go straight to Donington tomorrow for another day of running to make sure we’re going into the first round in good shape.”
Mikey Doble (#88) said:
“It still hasn’t completely sunk in that I’m going to be racing in the BTCC this year, but days like today certainly help make it feel like a reality!
“It’s great to be here together with everybody, and to launch the new livery. I think it all looks fantastic, and I’m really grateful to my sponsors and FSM for their support to get me to this stage in my career.
“Fingers crossed we can keep learning and improving like we did today, and head to Donington in with a shout of some good results.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal said:
“We have such a fantastic set of partners on board with us this year, and it’s great to see the finished livery in the flesh. If it goes as fast as it looks, I think we’ll be in for a really positive season!
“It wasn’t an ideal day in terms of how much running we managed, but it’s given us a really good idea of what we need to iron out ready for Donington next week.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager said:
“It’s the first time we’ve run three cars at the same test day this year, so it was a nice moment to bring the whole team together, and to launch the livery for this season.
“We were a bit limited in our running during the morning session, and again for a period in the afternoon due to the weather, but at this stage of the winter, all testing is useful testing.
“We’re straight up to Donington Park with Aron and Andrew for another day tomorrow, ahead of the opening round there next weekend.”
]]>The reigning Ginetta GT5 and BMW Compact Cup champion travelled to Snetterton’s 300 circuit in Norfolk for his first laps in anger behind the wheel of his new BTCC challenger, as he prepares for his biggest career challenge to-date.
Gaining crucial mileage and experience in a range of conditions, the Fewkes Sport Management-backed racer has already started to bond with his new machine, despite a steep learning curve ahead.
"My first day with PMR in the Vauxhall Astra went very well,” says Doble.
"I was starting from scratch as this was my first test in a front wheel drive and left-hand drive race car. There was plenty to get my head around initially, even down to using team radio and learning the various controls and displays, however I got to grips with all of that by the end of the morning so I could then focus on the driving”.
The step up to the UK’s premier tin-top series is the realisation of a dream for third-generator racer Doble, having aspired to race in the BTCC for almost two decades.
For the 24-year-old, the key between now and the season opener at Donington Park on 22-23 April is to continue acclimatising to his new surroundings and build up his confidence before the action begins in earnest.
"I was fortunate to get some wet and dry running in which I learnt a lot about the characteristics of the car, but the key for me improving was to learn to trust how great the car is. The grip it offers, and braking performance is out of this world, it is like no other car I have driven before.
"Now I have a full day’s testing under my belt and have reflected on where I can improve, I cannot wait to get back to it with the team for some more testing at Donington this week."
]]>The visit to the Kent circuit’s Indy configuration offered a first chance for Aron Taylor-Smith and Andrew Watson – both new to the team for this season – to get out in anger in their new Vauxhall Astra challengers.
Between them, the pair racked up a full day of running in their CarStore-backed machines, providing them, and the team’s engineering staff, with plenty of mileage and data to work from as the team continues to build towards the season opener at Donington Park next month.
The team’s third driver, Mikey Doble, will get his first chance to drive the car at Snetterton this coming Friday [24 March].
Taylor-Smith joins the team ahead of his ninth season in the UK’s premier tin-top series, and believes the Vauxhall Astra has every chance of helping him add to his four career wins and 18 podium finishes to-date.
“We’ve had a mixture of all weather conditions today, a bit of damp and some dry running,” explains Aron. “The car is being really responsive to the changes that we’re making, and really, we’re just working through everything.
“I’m starting to feel at home, and like we’re at a point where we can start pushing on. The chassis feels alive, and I think for a first day of testing, it’s been really productive so far.
“But the main thing for me is that everything is working. Everybody’s on the same page, going through a proper programme, everything is very precise and very measured, and I think that’ll stand us in good stead. The car is very close to what I want it to be already, which is a great starting point.”
Watson is a newcomer to the BTCC grid for 2023, the 28-year-old’s CV boasting a plethora of the world’s most prestigious sportscar championships and events – including the Le Mans 24 Hours.
And at the end of his first day in the front-wheel drive Vauxhall Astra, the MB Partners-supported racer only has one thing on his mind; to get back out at Croft next week and continue building towards the season opener!
“It’s been a great first day in the BTCC for me,” says Watson. “The team is working really well, we got plenty of experience in the dry, mixed, and wet conditions, which helped us make plenty of changes with the car and some good steps.
“I’m feeling really comfortable in the Vauxhall Astra already, and next up for me is Croft next week where I’m sure we’ll find plenty more learnings. Everyone’s very positive and it’s been a productive start.”
Team Principal Adam Weaver and Team Manager Martin Broadhurst also offered their views on a positive start to the team’s pre-season programme.
“It’s certainly an encouraging start,” says Weaver. “Really today was about bedding everything back in, cycling through our programme and getting Aron and Andrew up to speed with the cars, so to already be at the stage where we can use their feedback to make adjustments is very positive.
“The Great British weather certainly did us a favour in giving them plenty of laps in a variety of conditions, so it’s given us a good foundation to build from across the rest of pre-season.”
“What is also very helpful,” adds Broadhurst “is to have Mikey here with us, albeit not in the car. The synergy between the three drivers is very important to help us fine-tune the car, and ultimately try to put us towards the sharp end of the grid.
“So, from an engineering perspective, today was a good baseline to work from, but it’s also great to see everything coming together and gelling between the drivers, too. Their test days are split up on the schedule, but that cohesion means we can keep everybody on the same page and make it more of a joined-up effort.”
Donington Park, Leicestershire hosts the opening three rounds of the 2023 BTCC season on 22-23 April.
]]>The roles available are as follows:
Fabricator
We are looking for a Fabricator to lead our low volume fabrication department. In this role you will be expected to produce components for various project including our British Touring Car program where most welded parts are assembled in house, this includes production of race car bodyshells, roll cages, car body accident repairs, manufacture of car components such as radiators, aluminium pipes, brackets etc.
Our ideal candidate will have previous experience in a similar role and the ability to Tig and Mig weld to a high standard. You will be able to work from engineering drawings, have a flexible, positive attitude and be able to work alone or part of a team. A flexible approach to working hours is essential.
Key responsibilities
Number 2 Mechanic
We are also on the lookout for a Number 2 Mechanic to join the team ahead of the new season.
Key responsibilities
How to Apply
Please send an email to info@powermaxedracing.com marked for the attention of Team Manager, Martin Broadhurst.
The email should contain your CV and a short covering letter.
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