Bruising weekend for Power Maxed Racing
12th August 2015
Power Maxed Racing resumed their Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Campaign this weekend after the six-week summer break at a scorching Snetterton.
The weekend opened with the usual flair, with Dave Newsham and Josh Cook placing in and around the top ten in both free practice sessions. The Power Maxed Racing drivers opted for different setups for qualifying, Newsham preferring the car a bit looser at the rear with Cook preferring a tighter set up. It would prove to be Newsham who had found the better setup as he went on to qualify 11th with Cook just behind in 15th.
Race 1 got underway under a cloudless sky and soaring track temperatures on Sunday morning. Both cars taking their grid positions with Newsham on the soft tyre. Lights went green with Newsham making a strong start, both drivers avoiding the damaged BMW of Collard. With side by side battles from the start, Newsham moved up into 8th place and Cook maintaining position. A clean pass of the MG of Goff took Newsham into 7th place with Cook pushing for position with Matt Jackson. The action continued with Cook having to avoid the spinning car of Abbott whilst fighting side by side with Jackson. Newsham meanwhile had his head down to battle with Morgan in typical BTCC style, clean side by side driving and respect for driving standards thrilling the crowds. Lap 7 saw Newsham set his fastest lap putting him into 10th place for race 2. With a swift pass by Morgan, Newsham was left to defend against Goff, which he did with honours, making the Chevrolet as wide as possible to ensure he kept his 8th place. Cook was busy keeping fellow Clio Cup driver Bushell behind him to cross the line in 15th place with Newsham taking 8th, another top ten finish for the independent team.
With the race two grid decided by the pace of race one, Newsham started the race in 10th with Cook in 20th. Both drivers got off to a great start and avoiding the first of many incidents. Newsham battled three abreast with Jordan and Tordoff, avoiding the accident damaged Shedden. Passing Ingram, Newsham was on a full charge to gain places. Cook on the soft tyre gained places taking him into 14th, joining the battle with the accident damaged Matt Neal, Austin and Jackson. Only 2 laps down the race started to resemble a typical reverse grid race with multiple retirements, accidents and some questionable driving standards. The VW of Smith made contact with Newsham resulting in both cars retiring with suspension damage, Newsham limped back to the pits, to give the Power Maxed Racing team a fighting chance to repair the #17 car before race 3. Cook determined to gain places showed fans why he’s one to watch, with commitment and pace he moved up alongside Jackson, only to pick up debris after the contact between Team mates Depper and Smith, which resulted in a puncture. Nursing the car back to the pits for a tyre change, Cook rejoined the race to cross the line in 17th place after a chaotic race.
The team found themselves again under pressure to get Newsham’s #17 car repaired in time for the final race of the day but rising to the challenge, Newsham was on the grid starting 22nd with Cook 17th. After the chaos of race two both drivers got good clean starts and fought valiantly, by the second corner both Chevrolets had made great progress up the grid with Cook 15th and Newsham 18th. Lap 5 saw Newsham pass fellow teammate Cook with a textbook clean overtake, leaving both cars in one piece to continue the race. Unfortunately contact between Collard and Abbott left Newsham nowhere to go apart from a trip across the grass, putting his rally skills into gear he was able to join without damage and cross the line in 14th with Cook 16th, both gaining grid places and further data on the new hard compound tyre.
Adam Weaver, Power Maxed Racing Team Principal commented, “It’s unfortunate that we have had another weekend of tough breaks and not the results we expected”. Weaver continued, “Both drivers showed grit and determination throughout a very difficult weekend. It’ll be interesting to see what the Stewards have to say about the race two shenanigans! The team have again pulled out all the stops repairing the rear suspensions damage to Dave’s car after the contact in race 2. We look onwards and upwards to Knockhill and the great progress we have made as a small independent team in the BTCC”.
Power Maxed Racing will return in two weeks time when the championship visits Knockhill on the 22nd and 23rd August.
Track Days / Test Days / MotorsportDays.com
