Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing celebrated a triumphant return to Donington Park in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship over the weekend of August 24-25. Drivers Árón Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble secured a significant collection of trophies, showcasing their impressive performances on the track.
Traveling to the Leicestershire circuit for the season's eighth round, the Vauxhall Astra pair played leading roles. Taylor-Smith achieved his second top-three finish of the year and a clean sweep of the Independents’ honors, while Doble claimed victory in the Jack Sears Trophy.
These results have placed the team and Taylor-Smith within striking distance of securing the Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship titles. Doble, too, is closing in on the prestigious Jack Sears Trophy.
Qualifying on Saturday set the stage for a strong weekend, with both drivers shining in the ‘Quick Six’ shootout. Doble led the way with a season-best third place, followed closely by Taylor-Smith in sixth.
The first race was a challenging battle for both drivers as they were immediately caught up in the action. Despite an early setback due to contact with Tom Ingram, Doble fought back to finish 15th. Meanwhile, Taylor-Smith displayed determination, crossing the line in ninth.
In the second race, both drivers continued to be in the thick of the action. Doble climbed up the order to finish right behind Taylor-Smith, who secured eighth place, with Doble close behind in ninth.
For the final race, a reverse grid draw placed both drivers on the second row, leading to a fierce battle for podium positions. Taylor-Smith and Doble ran second and third for much of the race. Although they were eventually overtaken by the charging Ingram, Taylor-Smith held off intense pressure from Josh Cook and Jake Hill to secure third place. Doble finished a commendable sixth.
Árón Taylor-Smith: “It’s hard to believe we’re already eight weekends into the season, and our team just keeps getting stronger. I’m incredibly proud of everyone’s hard work; we’re operating at a high level. Weekends like this make all the preparation worthwhile. The car was phenomenal, and to leave with another podium and three Independent wins is huge. I’m really excited to see what we can achieve at Silverstone, another track where we’ve historically been strong.”
Mikey Doble: “This weekend was a bit bittersweet because we had the pace to challenge for an overall podium. Still, I’m happy with another Jack Sears Trophy win, which brings us closer to clinching that title. I felt good in practice, and it was great to show our pace by making it into the ‘Quick Six’ for the first time this year. Despite a tough first race, we bounced back strong in the final two. I’m looking forward to Silverstone with high expectations.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager: “Donington Park GP has been a successful venue for us in the past, and I’m pleased it delivered more positive results this time around. What’s even more satisfying is seeing the progress we’ve made in performance over the last 12 months. Both Árón and Mikey were on form all weekend, and while the results don’t fully reflect our strength, we’re leaving with a great haul of points and silverware, which strengthens our championship standing.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal: “It’s fantastic to be back on the overall podium! We knew we had a strong package going into the weekend, and despite the typical touring car challenges, we proved ourselves at the front. To end a busy month with a third-place finish, three more Independent wins, and the Jack Sears Trophy is a great reward for the team. We’re looking forward to another strong outing at Silverstone next month.”
The next round of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Silverstone, the Home of British Motor Racing, on September 21-22.
