Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing drivers Árón Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble are both brimming with confidence ahead of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship’s annual visit to Thruxton Circuit this weekend (June 8-9).
On what is one of the standout events on the calendar for the UK’s premier motorsport series, the Vauxhall Astra squad will be hoping to make their mark at what has been a happy hunting ground for them in previous years.
Taylor-Smith and Doble head to the high-speed Hampshire venue in fine form too having maintained their unbeaten record in the Independents’ Championship last time out - where they extended their winning streak to nine consecutive races.
Irishman Taylor-Smith holds a slight advantage in the standings over Doble and after seeing his chances of a big result dashed due to bad weather at Snetterton, the multiple race winner is eager to deliver on the front-running pace he has recently been showing.
For Doble, he sets course for Thruxton off the back of his best-ever BTCC weekend where he clinched a fourth place finish, two Independent wins and Jack Sears Trophy honours for a third successive meeting.
With the Astra having scored wins and podiums around the 2.36-mile layout, hopes are high that the refined chassis of the front-wheel-drive machine will be a difference maker when it comes to Sunday’s three pulsating contests.
Árón Taylor-Smith: “Like many drivers, Thruxton is one of those circuits that I have circled on my calendar each year. It’s a fast, flowing track that really suits my driving style and I’ve got great memories there; having previously taken a pole position. I always enjoy going there!
“I feel that given how strong the Vauxhall has been around there and that we have got some momentum on our side, we can really shock some people this weekend. We’re going into it full of confidence, knowing that we could have a package that can race towards the front."
Mikey Doble: “Thruxton could be the turning point in our season where we establish ourselves as a serious threat for the overall podium places. Its my favourite circuit in the country and it couples well with the fact that the Astra has enjoyed success there in the past.
“I’ve got great memories from racing there last year and with the progress that has been made in both myself and the car over the last 12 months, I’m excited to see what results we can achieve this year.
“We’ll be looking for nothing less than overall podium finishes and more solid points to justify our success this time around.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager: “Thruxton has always been one of those circuits where you need to have a good chassis underneath you and in the past, the Vauxhall Astra has always had that.
“Of course, the BTCC continues to evolve and develop so we can’t rely on past results to guarantee us success. That being said, the developments we have made since we there last year leaves me optimistic that we can be in the mix for some really strong results.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal: “I think everyone has a real affection for Thruxton, be it because we have gone well around there in previous years or just because the nature of the circuit means you have to be on the limit every single lap.
“I feel that in recent rounds we’ve began to show that when everything aligns we can fight at the front; it would be great if we can hook everything up this weekend. It’s been a happy hunting ground for us in the past; fingers crossed we can come away with something big results-wise.”
Qualifying at Thruxton will be broadcast on the ITV Sport YouTube channel on Saturday from 15:15 before all three races are aired LIVE on ITV4 on Sunday. Race one is scheduled to begin at 11:45 ahead of race two at 14:35 and race three at 17:20.
