Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing will look to build on its strong start to the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season this weekend (11/12 May) as the UK’s premier motorsport series sets course for Brands Hatch.
The Worcestershire-based team kicked off the new campaign in impressive fashion at Donington Park almost a fortnight ago as they claimed a clean sweep of Independents’ race wins.
Árón Taylor-Smith led the line for the Vauxhall Astra squad as he chalked up two Independent triumphs before team-mate Mikey Doble then claimed honours in the final bout; as well as clinching overall honours in the Jack Sears Trophy.
That success means that the team arrives at the second meeting of the year at the world-famous Kent venue sitting atop the Independent Drivers’ Championship, Independent Teams’ Championship and Jack Sears Trophy.
Both drivers will head into Brands Hatch in buoyant mood too with the circuit having been a happy hunting ground for the team down the years, with Senna Proctor claiming a famous win there in 2018 before Jason Plato triumphed a year later.
With the benefit of having enjoyed a positive pre-season test around the short 1.207-mile circuit at the start of April, hopes are high that the team can make their mark with a solid haul of results this weekend.
Árón Taylor-Smith said: “Heading to Brands Hatch I think the team can be full of optimism, especially coming off the back of our performances at Donington Park, and we all have our sights set on having a strong weekend.
“When we tested at the circuit in pre-season the car felt really strong in both wet and dry conditions so I think we should have a fast package. I feel like we will be able to challenge up towards the front and I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Mikey Doble said: “We started with a solid opening round where we scored points in all three races and came away with some silverware. Heading to Brands Hatch we’re looking to build on those results and hopefully use our additional hybrid to put the car well inside the top ten.
“This is going to be the first meeting of the season where we see the new tyre rules come into effect and I think that is going to spice the racing up even more. I’m fully focused on claiming more big points in the Jack Sears Trophy and Independents’; we should be right in the fight.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager, said: “Brands Hatch has always been a strong track for us and I’m optimistic that this year should be no different; especially when you add in the alternative levels of hybrid power and the option tyres that are available.
“The BTCC is all about evolving and since Donington Park we’ve found a few little areas that we hope will improve the car and therefore allow us to fight closer to the front. It’s going to be competitive but we’re up for the fight.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal, said: “Donington Park was a relatively solid start to the season for us as a team, however, we are by no means content, and we’ve been working hard to further improve the whole package over the past ten days or so.
“Brands Hatch plays to the strengths of the Vauxhall Astra so on paper it should be a strong weekend for Árón and Mikey. When you factor in the differences in hybrid deployment and the option tyres it should make for a really exciting weekend!”
Qualifying at Brands Hatch will be broadcast on the ITV Sport YouTube channel on Saturday from 15:25 before all three races are aired LIVE on ITV4 on Sunday. Race one is scheduled to begin at 11:50 ahead of race two at 14:30 and race three at 17:15.