Hunter Abbott switches to Power Maxed Racing for 2016 BTCC
Power Maxed Racing has recruited Hunter Abbott to drive a Chevrolet Cruze in the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. It follows the news that Dave Newsham, who raced for PMR last season is to switch his attention to the British Rallycross Championship this year.
The team has made great strides forward since joining the BTCC at the start of last year. Following the change of ownership to Power Maxed and the appointment of Martin Broadhurst as Technical Director, the squad has made significant gains in every element of its racing programme.
Abbott has a long and distinguished racing career and this will be his third season in the BTCC. His CV is full of accolades, including the runner-up spoils in the 2008 British GT4 Championship and 2013 Benelux Porsche Carrera Cup, whilst in evidence of his pace and versatility, he has held lap records at circuits as varied as Zolder, Spa-Francorchamps, Donington Park and Brands Hatch Indy.
“I have had my eye on Hunter for a while now and am looking forward to giving him a chance to shine and show his true potential,” commented Power Maxed Racing Team Principal Adam Weaver. “I have been a good judge of motor sport talent in the past and I see something in Hunter.
“Hunter has a great track record and we are confident that if we guide him through the switch to front-wheel drive, he will flourish in the team, turn a few heads and deliver some of his best results.
“We run a very ‘open book’ team approach, sharing data and set-ups as we believe that treating both drivers as equals moves the whole team forward. I am sure that by pairing him with the technical skill of the PMR team and engineers, we can help Hunter unlock his true BTCC pace.”
“I am very much looking forward to the new opportunities presented by PMR,” echoed Abbott. “I want to show the paddock what I can achieve and repay Adam’s faith in my abilities. I have had two good years in the BTCC and I can’t wait to get out in the Chevrolet. It will also be great to try my hand at front-wheel drive, especially as the Cruze has enjoyed such a high level of development.”
Weaver revealed that negotiations are well underway to fill the second PMR berth, with a number of names in the frame.
“We have several options for our final seat,” he explained. “We are talking to some familiar faces, a multiple BTCC champion and one or two new drivers. All of them would make a great pairing with Hunter, but you know what this part of the season is like for speculation and rumour, so you will just have to wait and see.”