Automotive Brands, owners of Power Maxed Racing are delighted to announce their commercial partnership with Vauxhall Motors. The agreement will see the return of the Vauxhall Astra to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship from 2017 onwards.

As an integral part of this agreement Power Maxed Racing will run two new Vauxhall Astras – 2016 European Car of the Year ­­­­­­­– in the BTCC as a Manufacturer entry.

Automotive Brands supply products such as Steel Seal – a head gasket fix in a bottle and Power Maxed Car Care Products to over 2,500 UK Motor factors and Motor Stores including Euro Car Parts, Motor Parts Direct, GroupAuto, A1 and Halfords.

This landmark deal will see Automotive Brands run a fleet of Vauxhall vehicles as well as leverage its relationships with commercial partners who operate fleets totalling over 25,000 light commercial vehicles. The deal will enable Vauxhall to increase its share of this highly valued market.

Automotive Brands’ trade customers will have access to FREE use of a Power Maxed branded Vauxhall Combo 1.3 CDTI, returning incredible MPG with low maintenance costs and strong residual values ; all key factors when specifying light commercial vehicles completing up to 200,000 miles over the average 4-year term.

Adam Weaver Managing Director of Automotive Brands, Team Principal of Power Maxed Racing commented “We are incredibly pleased and proud to be working with Vauxhall and to be the team that brings this iconic and highly successful brand back to the BTCC. The all new Astra is a fantastic car and it is no surprise that it was voted 2016 European Car of the Year – it will make a show-stopping BTCC challenger."

Shells have now been supplied and work is well advanced in turning the new Astra into a highly competitive BTCC car. We are aiming to announce a talented and exciting driver line-up in the near future ; which will further motivate and inspire everyone involved in this exciting project.

Power Maxed and Vauxhall brand values are perfectly aligned ;  both partners committed to UK manufacturing, product excellence and sector-leading customer service.

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, commented “It is fantastic to be welcoming Vauxhall back to the BTCC as a manufacturer entry. Its history and pedigree is there for all to see and I have no doubt that the highly professional and experienced team at Power Maxed Racing will be great partners.”

More reaction, plus news on the build, testing programme and driver line-up will follow over the coming days and weeks.