Power Maxed Racing has today (8 April) announced that Ash Hand will join the team for his debut season alongside Michael Crees in the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
Having started his racing career in karting at just seven years of age, Hand joined the Renault Clio Cup – a mainstay of the BTCC support paddock for many years – in which he narrowly missed out on the championship title behind now three-time BTCC titleholder Ash Sutton.
Due to his runner-up finish in the series, Hand went on to secure his first taste of the BTCC later that year, as he took part in the BTCC’s Prize Test in a Motorbase Performance’s Ford Focus.
In 2019, the Warwickshire racer went on to become British GT4 Champion after an intense battle for the accolade in his debut campaign.
The upcoming BTCC campaign will see Hand pilot the #97 Vauxhall Astra alongside Jack Sears Trophy winner Crees for Power Maxed Racing, as the 27-year-old begins a multi-year deal with the squad.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Hand. “The dream after this one is a race win in the BTCC and after that is to be crowned BTCC Champion. The deal we have put together, I believe, gives me the best possible chance of achieving this. A multi-year deal securing my future in BTCC is the holy grail of deals as a race driver.
“Adam [Weaver] and I have been working on this for years and to be honest this is something all racers generally only dream of. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Adam for the faith that he has already put in me and the work he has put in over the last few years to help get this over the line and put me out in one of his cars. I promise I am going to reward that with the results that he and all the team deserve.”
“[Ash] is a great guy,” added Team Principal Adam Weaver. “I absolutely loved watching the battles between Ash Sutton and Ash Hand [in the Renault Clio Cup] – many of which I watched again when I got home. I have watched them all again on YouTube recently, just to remind myself of why I’ve worked so hard to get him in a BTCC car. Everyone knows the talent Sutton has and I just can’t wait to see [Hand] go and challenge him again and very hopefully come out on top this time.
“I know Ash and Creesy will get on brilliantly and I’m really looking forward to being a part of this team. It’s everything we have been working towards and I have never been this excited about the BTCC year ahead!”
Hand will kick off his debut campaign in the BTCC at his home circuit of Donington Park (23/24 April), where he will be hoping to hit the ground running and for a strong opening weekend as he celebrates his 28th birthday on Sunday’s race day.
