Rockingham Motor Speedway was the venue for rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship last weekend.
The Power Maxed Racing achieved its most successful weekend to date claiming, with its first ever BTCC podium, another Jack Sears Trophy and seeing Josh Cook gain an unassailable lead in the Jack Sears Trophy for 2015.
Both Cook and Dave Newsham made great starts in race one and managed to avoid the mid-race mayhem, which required a safety car.
The final laps saw Cook’s tyres drop off with leaving him victim to the chasing pack, including Newsham who was running strongly on the medium compound tyre. A late move on his team-mate by Newsham saw him cross the line in 11th with Cook in finishing in 13th.
With fast laps set during race 1 determining the grid, Cook lined up 14th and Newsham 16th and both drivers made another solid start.
Sadly, mid-way through the race, Newsham was to fall prey to a broken rear suspension after a coming together with Nick Foster’s BMW.
He managed to limp back to the pits to give the Power Maxed Racing team maximum time to get the car back for Race 3.
Cook, however, was on a charge pushing the car into 6th place past the Audi of Rob Austin, then deftly up the inside of Colin Turkington into 5th.
Jack Goff was the next target, Cook quickly closed the gap to pass cleanly into 4th place and quickly set about challenging Adam Morgan’s Mercedes.
With only two laps to go Cook, showing his touring car talent, pulled alongside Morgan taking the outside line into the Brook chicane, a brave calculated line gaining him 3rd place and crossing the line to take his first BTCC podium.
A typical race three start saw Cook miss a spinning MG to gain a place up into 7th and Newsham on a full charge, gaining multiple places.
Luck was sadly not with Newsham as he was collected by Derek Palmer, pushing him wide damaging the suspension with no option but to retire.
Multiple incidents, leading to two safety car beaks, made it a stop-start race and Cook finally crossed the line in 10th place.
Adam Weaver, Power Maxed Racing Team Principal commented, “Getting our first podium is a really big deal, it is testament to the hard work the entire team and shows the changes we have made since taking over are really paying off.
“Josh did a fantastic job and drove like a true professional; he made us all very proud.”
He continues, “We have had our head down working hard since January and it is nice to lift our heads and enjoy what we hope to be the first podium of many. Our hard work will not stop here as we have lots more in the pipeline to continue our rise to the top.”
The BTCC continues in two weekend’s time when the championship visits the home of British Motorsport, Silverstone.
