Positive Pace This Weekend at Donington Park.
Positive Pace This Weekend at Donington Park.
This past weekend saw Power Maxed Racing at Donington Park for the TCR UK Championship, PMR would field four cars for the second round of the campaign with drivers, Russell Joyce, Chris Wallis, Mark Smith and our BTCC Development driver, Jac Constable competing for the championship in his second season in TCR with the team. Unfortunately due to illness, Oulton Park podium finisher Callum Newsham had to sit out the Donington round.
The team and drivers were excited to get back out on track following a five-week break in between race weekends. The paddock filled with fans for the weekend activities and on the Saturday the team didn’t disappoint with an intense qualifying session held in the afternoon.
In the thirty minute session Wallis #52, Joyce #72 & Smith #77 completed 11 laps despite the traffic on track securing their fastest time on lap 8 for Joyce with a 1:37.537 and lap 9 for Wallis with a 1.39.449, Smith was adapting to the pace having not tested on the Friday prior. With the knowledge that Constable would be demoted to the back of the grid for race 1 the team opted to just complete 4 laps to satisfy the qualifying requirements. This grid penalty was due to having to fit a new engine following the retirement during round one of the championship at Oulton Park.
Race day had arrived, the skies where grey but the atmosphere in the garage were high and bright; everyone was eager and focused for a great day and even better results. The Power Maxed racing mechanics had worked into the night preparing the cars ready for this moment.
The 16- lap race was about to start and all drivers joined the grid. Russell Joyce #72 starting P.18, Wallis #52 in P.22 and Constable #257 unfortunately in P.25 however he didn’t stay there long. The BTCC Development driver showed his skill and talent throughout the race by soaring up the grid as far as P8 at one point and ultimately finishing the race in a remarkable P.12; absolute master class drive and completing a best lap time of 1:36.818. Joyce #72 finishing the race just in front of Constable in P.11 and P.1 in class ensuing a podium and more silverware to take home. Wallis #52 had a positive race as well jumping up seven positions into P.15 which a best lap time of 1.38.972. Mark Smith had improved pace with a lap time of 1.39.642
Race two held later than normal at six forty five with twenty-five minutes on the clock. Both Joyce and Constable lined up on row 6 and Wallis on row 8 & Mark Smith row 9, ready for the lights to go out and the action to begin. In the 15 lap race there was lots of battles up and down the grid resulting in three DNFs and two disqualifications however the Power Maxed Racing drivers were fortune enough to stay out of the chaos and finished the race. Constable #257 again presented incredible talent and moved up 6 positions, finishing in P.6 after running as high as 4th place during the race. Wallis #52 also increased into P.14 and Joyce #72 maintained his position through the race and crossed the line in P.11 & Mark Smith finishing a respectable P15.
Overall the weekend was a positive one for the Warwickshire based team, all drivers showing incredible pace and collecting points and silverware and the mechanics once again working extremely hard, to support and provide the best car for the drivers, well done to all the Power Maxed Racing team. We look forward to the next round of TCR- UK Campaign held on Father’s day weekend; 18th & 19th June at the Kent based race track, Brands Hatch on the Indy circuit.
Team Manager, Martin Broadhurst: “This was the toughest challenge ever for the team due to the clash of events between BTCC & TCR, the team pulled together extremely well to give the drivers the best support and service possible and I am really grateful and proud of the whole team for what they have achieved this weekend, well done to everybody in both TCR & BTCC.
Jac did an incredible job coming from the back in race 1 and moving up the grid throughout the two races.
Russell is now showing great promise and it is good to see him achieving some great results.
Chris & Mark are really improving well but most importantly enjoying themselves at the same time.
We now look forwards to Brands Hatch in three weeks time.”
Russell Joyce #72: "Donington Park is a personal favourite of mine with the high speed Craner Curves. This fast-flowing track lends itself to high-speed competitive action and it didn’t disappoint!
After struggling with traffic in qualifying we managed to make up places and I was delighted to finish P11 in race 1 and collect the class win. We move to Brands leading the Diamond Championship and confident that we can extend our lead further.
We have found more pace in me and the car and every round we are getting quicker, I’m delighted with my partnership with PMR, the team is giving confidence to challenging further."
Jac Constable #257: ”Overall it was a positive weekend for me in finishing both races, albeit continuing to suffer additional gremlins with my car.
The Team continues to work hard to address the on-going issues and I’m convinced that there are podiums awaiting us when we overcome these frustrating problems.”
The team and drivers were excited to get back out on track following a five-week break in between race weekends. The paddock filled with fans for the weekend activities and on the Saturday the team didn’t disappoint with an intense qualifying session held in the afternoon.
In the thirty minute session Wallis #52, Joyce #72 & Smith #77 completed 11 laps despite the traffic on track securing their fastest time on lap 8 for Joyce with a 1:37.537 and lap 9 for Wallis with a 1.39.449, Smith was adapting to the pace having not tested on the Friday prior. With the knowledge that Constable would be demoted to the back of the grid for race 1 the team opted to just complete 4 laps to satisfy the qualifying requirements. This grid penalty was due to having to fit a new engine following the retirement during round one of the championship at Oulton Park.
Race day had arrived, the skies where grey but the atmosphere in the garage were high and bright; everyone was eager and focused for a great day and even better results. The Power Maxed racing mechanics had worked into the night preparing the cars ready for this moment.
The 16- lap race was about to start and all drivers joined the grid. Russell Joyce #72 starting P.18, Wallis #52 in P.22 and Constable #257 unfortunately in P.25 however he didn’t stay there long. The BTCC Development driver showed his skill and talent throughout the race by soaring up the grid as far as P8 at one point and ultimately finishing the race in a remarkable P.12; absolute master class drive and completing a best lap time of 1:36.818. Joyce #72 finishing the race just in front of Constable in P.11 and P.1 in class ensuing a podium and more silverware to take home. Wallis #52 had a positive race as well jumping up seven positions into P.15 which a best lap time of 1.38.972. Mark Smith had improved pace with a lap time of 1.39.642
Race two held later than normal at six forty five with twenty-five minutes on the clock. Both Joyce and Constable lined up on row 6 and Wallis on row 8 & Mark Smith row 9, ready for the lights to go out and the action to begin. In the 15 lap race there was lots of battles up and down the grid resulting in three DNFs and two disqualifications however the Power Maxed Racing drivers were fortune enough to stay out of the chaos and finished the race. Constable #257 again presented incredible talent and moved up 6 positions, finishing in P.6 after running as high as 4th place during the race. Wallis #52 also increased into P.14 and Joyce #72 maintained his position through the race and crossed the line in P.11 & Mark Smith finishing a respectable P15.
Overall the weekend was a positive one for the Warwickshire based team, all drivers showing incredible pace and collecting points and silverware and the mechanics once again working extremely hard, to support and provide the best car for the drivers, well done to all the Power Maxed Racing team. We look forward to the next round of TCR- UK Campaign held on Father’s day weekend; 18th & 19th June at the Kent based race track, Brands Hatch on the Indy circuit.
Team Manager, Martin Broadhurst: “This was the toughest challenge ever for the team due to the clash of events between BTCC & TCR, the team pulled together extremely well to give the drivers the best support and service possible and I am really grateful and proud of the whole team for what they have achieved this weekend, well done to everybody in both TCR & BTCC.
Jac did an incredible job coming from the back in race 1 and moving up the grid throughout the two races.
Russell is now showing great promise and it is good to see him achieving some great results.
Chris & Mark are really improving well but most importantly enjoying themselves at the same time.
We now look forwards to Brands Hatch in three weeks time.”
Russell Joyce #72: "Donington Park is a personal favourite of mine with the high speed Craner Curves. This fast-flowing track lends itself to high-speed competitive action and it didn’t disappoint!
After struggling with traffic in qualifying we managed to make up places and I was delighted to finish P11 in race 1 and collect the class win. We move to Brands leading the Diamond Championship and confident that we can extend our lead further.
We have found more pace in me and the car and every round we are getting quicker, I’m delighted with my partnership with PMR, the team is giving confidence to challenging further."
Jac Constable #257: ”Overall it was a positive weekend for me in finishing both races, albeit continuing to suffer additional gremlins with my car.
The Team continues to work hard to address the on-going issues and I’m convinced that there are podiums awaiting us when we overcome these frustrating problems.”