This weekend (22/23 April), CarStore with Power Maxed Racing driver Mikey Doble, is set to lift the curtain on his maiden Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign at Donington Park.
Stepping up into the UK’s premier motorsport series for 2023, the 24-year-old - who last year clinched both the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and BMW Compact Cup titles – is setting his sights on consistent points finishes and Jack Sears Trophy glory.
Teaming up with Aron Taylor-Smith and Andrew Watson at the Independent-run Vauxhall Astra squad, Doble will take centre stage in front of a capacity crowd at the Leicestershire venue, as well as many more watching on ITV4, for three blockbuster races on Sunday - achieving a lifelong dream in the process.
Since announcing his BTCC graduation in March, the Surrey-based racer has undergone a busy pre-season programme which has included a number of test days behind the wheel; clocking valuable mileage at Donington Park, Snetterton and most recently Brands Hatch.
Tasked with not only getting dialled into his front-wheel-drive machine, Doble has also had to contend with understanding the nuances of hybrid power and the option tyre.
“I’m really excited and now just ready to get going; it’s been a long winter of hard work but it’s now almost time to do the real fun part of the job which is go racing.” said Mikey Doble, “If I’m honest I still don’t think it’s fully sunk in that I’m a BTCC driver.
“Everyone at CarStore Power Maxed Racing has been so welcoming which is great. Myself, Aron and Andrew have all been getting on really well too and that’s important because we need to work together to push the team up the grid.
“I’ve managed to get four test days in the car prior to this coming weekend and I’ve been growing in confidence every lap. There’s a lot to learn and take in but the progress has been clear to see which is fantastic.
“I’m under no illusions as to how competitive the BTCC is but I’m clear about my goals; I want to be consistently challenging for points and also be in contention for the Jack Sears Trophy. Both are very realistic and I’m going after both of them - starting this weekend.”
The 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship begins this weekend at Donington Park, with three races scheduled to take place on Sunday around the National layout of the Leicestershire venue.