Double Podium for Thompson
Power Maxed Racing driver Bobby Thompson chalked up two more podium finishes at the world-famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium
over the weekend seeing him keep his position at the top of the Miltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup championship.
19-year-old Thompson was one to watch as the Power Maxed Racing Polo R made its debut at the 4.3 mile Grand Prix venue. Thompson also set the fastest lap in 2015 showing his pace at the circuit, plus he was on a high on the back of a successful BTCC test in the Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze.
With his head down and focused, Thompson held his nerve in qualifying to put the PMR Polo 3rd during a tight session with only 0.5s separating the top 4.
Under sun filled skies, Thompson lined his PMR VW Polo R up on the second row of the grid and made a cracking start. On a mission, he was quickly up into first by the end of lap 2 passing Walker Tully and visiting Swedish GT Pro, Strandburg. Carrying full success ballast, Thompson was unable to hold off the two un-ballasted Siroccos and made a tactical decision to let them go and think of Championship points. The youngster showed his race craft to keep a top 3 position over the final laps to score crucial points in the overall race for the Championship.
Bobby Thompson, PMR Driver, commented, "I got a great start in the PMR Polo R, I was carrying full weight and because of the lighter cars behind I had to make the decision to protect my tyres and ensure that I crossed the line with a solid points haul rather than risk a DNF. The Power Maxed Polo keeps getting better and better, and I have gelled with the team and am delighted to have delivered another podium finish for my sponsors Hampson Haulage and the team".
Early on Saturday morning Race 2 got under way with Thompson starting again from the second-row with his sights on another podium finish. Getting away and avoiding early race action, Thompson settled into his rhythm with the front runners, pushing the Polo in a battle for 4th place. Contact ahead between Walker Tully and Strandberg shuffled the pack with Thompson up to 3rd, chasing the ballast free Golf of Witts for 2nd but time sadly ran out as the safety car was deployed for the final laps of the race seeing the PMR Polo R cross the line on the podium for the 5th time this year.
Bobby Thompson commented
"Spa is such a fantastic circuit, the speed through Eau Rouge is like nothing else on earth, it’s such a rush but also terrifying if you make a mistake. To come home with two more podiums for the team and to be still leading the championship is fantastic for my sponsors, the team and myself. I am still a newbie to the Volkswagen Cup and to be racing at the front is great. My focus is now onto Snetterton and that top step!. The Power Maxed Team have given me the best platform to be fighting for the championship; we will be working flat out over the next few weeks to step the development up again."
Adam Weaver, Power Maxed Racing team principal, commented
"Bobby continues to show his race craft and pace in the Polo R, two podiums from a weekend are fantastic for all of us involved. As the Polo is brand new entrant we are learning all the time, carrying maximum ballast has been challenging but we are making huge steps forward. To come away again with Bobby leading the championship is remarkable in his second season and our first. With three meetings remaining, consistency and podiums will be critical to secure his championship lead in the Power Maxed Racing Polo R”.
Power Maxed Racing will return on the 7th August at Snetterton for the latest round of the Miltek Sport VW Racing Cup.