The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship proved to be one of the best ever for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing as it dominated proceedings in both the Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy categories, as well as challenging for overall honours on a regular basis.
PMR were quietly confident coming into the season having enjoyed an encouraging 2023 campaign, which saw Árón Taylor-Smith claim runners-up laurels in the Independent Drivers’ order while Andrew Watson and Mikey Doble duelled it out for the Jack Sears Trophy.
A settled driver pairing of Taylor-Smith and Doble, along with a much-improved pair of Vauxhall Astras, gave the squad some much needed consistency and the approach reaped rewards throughout this year.
Both Taylor-Smith and Doble troubled the BTCC’s alleged big hitters with great regularity, and each stood on the overall podium during 2024, with a double rostrum for the duo at Thruxton being a particular highlight… the only thing arguably missing from their season was an outright victory.
With PMR challenging the manufacturer-backed squads overall then it was little surprise to see them absolutely dominate both the Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy in 2024.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing incredibly accumulated 27 out of a possible 30 Independents’ victories across the season, with Taylor-Smith having won two thirds of all races. Doble kept his team-mate honest – and the pair even swapped paint as the battle moved towards its climax – but Irishman Taylor-Smith took a hugely deserved Indy Drivers’ title while the duo claimed the Teams’ honours.
It was Taylor-Smith’s tenth full season in the BTCC – split by a three-year sabbatical during the 2018-2020 campaigns – with seventh overall in 2024 representing his best ever return.
The younger Doble has arguably marked himself down as one to watch for the future after two impressive seasons the UK’s biggest and best motorsport championship, and he was duly rewarded with the JST triumph.
In 2023, Doble narrowly missed out to then-team-mate Watson, but he would not be denied this time around as he won half of the races en route to claiming his first piece of championship silverware.
Taylor-Smith and Doble have enjoyed enough column inches during the year of course, so what better way to sum up the season with the words from both the Team Principal and Team Manager…
Adam Weaver, Team Principal, said: “It truly has been a season that will live long in the memory. We’ve enjoyed our fair share of success down the years in the BTCC but what we’ve achieved this season arguably trumps everything - to walk away with three different titles is some effort.
“I’ve got to say a massive thank you to every single member of the team, all of our fantastic sponsors and partners and of course the fans for their incredible support this year - without them none of this will have been possible.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager, said: “To be standing here having won three BTCC titles is a real testament to the talent and desire that every single member of this team possesses. It has been a brilliant season and it’s been a privilege to be involved.
“Coming into the season we knew that the work that we had carried out over the off-season would translate into strong results and that’s exactly what has happened. Both Árón and Mikey have been fantastic all season and they’re worthy winners of their individual honours too.”
