Mikey Doble Secures Fifth Independent Victory and Championship Lead at Croft
Mikey Doble showed his fighting spirit in style at Croft Circuit this past weekend (2-3 August), claiming his fifth Independent win of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season and storming to the top of the Independent standings.
The Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing driver delivered another standout performance in North Yorkshire as the BTCC kicked off the second half of the season with three dramatic races. Despite setbacks early in the day, Doble dug deep and came away with a hard-fought class victory in the race day finale – a result that sees him now hold an eight-point advantage in the Independent Drivers’ Championship.
Qualifying Heroics
As he has done on numerous occasions this season, Doble shone under pressure in Saturday’s qualifying session. Powering his Vauxhall Astra into the Quick Six Shootout yet again, the reigning Jack Sears Trophy champion set a blistering lap of 1:20.936 around the 2.100-mile circuit to secure third on the grid for race one.
Race Day Rollercoaster
Race 1 – Damage Limitation After Early Drama
Starting from the second row, Doble was primed to fight for silverware in the opening contest, but greasy conditions on a tricky Croft circuit soon played their part. Struggling to get the car into its optimal window in the early laps, he was shuffled down the order before clipping the grass through the chicane and spinning into the tyre wall.
Remarkably, Doble was able to recover and rejoin, showcasing his determination by charging back through the field to finish 15th overall and keep his points tally ticking over.
Race 2 – Frustration on the Soft Tyre
Lining up for race two on the preferred Goodyear soft compound, Doble found himself bottled up in a freight train of cars where overtaking proved near-impossible. Despite his best efforts, he could only make up one position, crossing the line 14th.
Race 3 – A Reverse Grid Classic and Independent Glory
If the first two contests were action-packed, the final race will go down as one of the all-time Croft thrillers. Starting from deep in the pack, Doble made strong initial progress before an issue forced him into an unscheduled pit stop under the safety car. Fortunately, he remained on the lead lap and rejoined and caught the pack with everything to play for.
What followed was a stunning display of overtaking prowess. Carving his way through the order from last, Doble surged into 10th place overall on the run to the chequered flag, crucially snatching the Independent class win from rival Dexter Patterson on the final lap. That decisive move not only delivered his fifth Independent victory of 2025, but also elevated him to the top of the Independent Drivers’ standings.
Quotes:
Mikey Doble said:
“It’s been a rollercoaster race day, so to finish on the podium with an Independent win is fantastic. It’s slightly bittersweet because I know we had the potential to achieve more this weekend, especially after qualifying third.
“Race one didn’t go our way – greasy conditions and the car not being quite in the window made life tricky, and then the spin was my mistake. We recovered to grab a point and then race two was just a train where nobody could move forward.
“That last race was absolutely chaotic! To come from a pit stop to an Independent win shows the strength of this team. Huge thanks to everyone at Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing for giving me a car that could fight back. Now we’ll regroup and go into Knockhill aiming for even more.”
Team Principal [Adam Weaver] added:
“This weekend was all about resilience. Croft is never an easy place to race, and Mikey showed incredible determination. Qualifying third was a brilliant effort, and while the first two races didn’t go to plan, that final race sums up what this team is about – never giving up. Securing another Independent win and leading the championship is a huge boost heading into Knockhill.”
Independent Championship Standings
Mikey now leads the Independent Drivers’ Championship by eight points, setting up a thrilling battle for the remainder of the season.
With the team sitting a comfortable second in the Independent Teams standings.
Looking Ahead
The BTCC returns in less than two weeks for the next rounds at Knockhill (16-17 August) – a circuit renowned for its tight layout, blind crests, and door-to-door racing. With momentum on their side, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing is ready to fight at the sharp end once again.
Info
About Mikey Doble
One of the most exciting young stars in the BTCC, Mikey Doble combines raw speed with race-winning experience. Already a maiden race winner in 2025 at Snetterton, Mikey continues to impress in his campaign with Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing.
About Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing
Motor Parts Direct is one of the UK’s largest motor factor chains, delivering high-quality car parts and accessories nationwide.
Power Maxed is a leading UK based car care manufacturer.
Combining forces to become Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, one of the most competitive and respected teams in the BTCC, this collaboration brings David Vs Goliath performance and tenacity to Britain’s premier motorsport series.
