Rising V8 Supercars talent Alex Rullo is set for a taste of Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship machinery, with the Australian due to test a Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra at Brands Hatch next Thursday.
In 2017, at 16 years of age, Rullo became the youngest driver in the flagship Aussie series' history, having started his career at 14 competing in the V8 Touring Car Nationals where he sealed four wins and helped earn his team second place in the championship over the season.
Now, considering his plans for next year, and with PMR in the process of driver selection ahead of the 2018 campaign, Rullo heads to Brands Hatch to meet the team and get to grips with piloting NGTC machinery in the team's Astra – a trophy-winning BTCC car following a positive comeback campaign for Vauxhall in 2017.
“It’s a long way to travel for one day, so naturally I wanted to test with a developing top team," said Rullo. "I have thought long and hard about my options for 2018, the BTCC is an incredible series and could be the way to go for us in 2018, so when we contacted Adam Weaver and then he subsequently offered me the opportunity, naturally I jumped at it.
PMR Team Manager Martin Broadhurst added: “Any testing gives us further information on the car, and allows us to start thinking about what kind of drivers we might want to bring in. It also helps with fine tuning our set up, to aid in netting more podium finishes next year.”
“I am really looking forward to meeting with Alex, his manager and his family at the test," said PMR Team Principal Adam Weaver. "We intrigued to see how he gets on in his first outing in a BTCC car, and as people will know, we are gaining a good reputation for bringing young talent to the championship – securing the Jack Sears Trophy twice in three years. Maybe we can do it again in 2018."
Rullo's outing follows PMR's test at the back end of last week at Donington Park, with former IndyCar racer and Le Mans class winner Martin Plowman behind the wheel of one of its Vauxhalls. 2016 BTCC runner-up Sam Tordoff also trialled the Astra, following Plowman’s morning session in the car.
“I was impressed with the Power Maxed Racing team and the car – it is a hungry up-and-coming team and there is a desire to perform there,” the Yorkshireman said.
Vauxhall thrilled with PMR partnership
Vauxhall Trade Club has expressed its delight with the results of the first year of its BTCC engagement in 2017 at PMR. Its programme yielded strong digital, print and broadcast coverage, unique VIP experiences with the team and highly positive internal communications.
Chris Downing, Aftersales Product & Pricing Manager for the Vauxhall Trade Club said: “It really was a no brainer for us. It increased our awareness nationwide, we gained many more Trade Club members and our guests had an incredible, action-packed time at each weekend. I can't wait to see what the team can achieve in year two with the Astras.”
Power Maxed Racing made strides in 2017 with Vauxhall's backing, sealing the Jack Sears Trophy thanks to rookie Senna Proctor. A rostrum on the British marque's BTCC Manufacturer return at the Brands Hatch season opener for Tom Chilton was augmented by his deputee, Rob Huff at Silverstone, illustrating the team and the car's podium potential.
“It was great to be the team bringing Vauxhall back to the BTCC," added Weaver. "We had some pretty phenomenal achievements considering the unknown territory of fielding entirely new cars. We’re all working hard and we're very excited by what 2018 has to offer.”
📸 courtesy of Christian Hartung.
