CarStore Power Maxed Racing showed a good turn of pace and collected valuable data during the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship’s in-season Goodyear Tyre Test yesterday (4 July).

Ahead of the series’ much-anticipated return to the full Grand Prix loop at Donington Park next month, the East Midlands venue welcomed the UK’s premier tin-top category for a full day of running.

Andrew Watson, Aron Taylor-Smith, and Mikey Doble – who have already exceeded the team’s 2022 points haul in just half of the current campaign – registered a total of 176 laps around the 2.4-mile circuit across over six hours of running.

Taylor-Smith was the best-placed of the three, the Irishman setting the second-fastest time of the day overall in the Vauxhall Astra, with Watson and Doble in P10 and P15 to round out a strong showing.

The next stop for the trio is Croft Circuit, Yorkshire, for the next three rounds of the championship over the final weekend of July.

Aron Taylor-Smith said: “This was definitely the most productive day of testing we’ve had so far this year. It’s a circuit we’ve raced at already, albeit on the National circuit, but it’s still given us a good baseline to build from.

“Without getting too technical and giving anything away, there are a few things we’ve been waiting to try until today, to give it the proper time and attention, and it’s helped us unlock a new avenue in the Vauxhall Astra.

“To finish the day in second is always a nice little boost!”

Andrew Watson said: “A really good, productive day from my side of the garage. It’s a great opportunity to get some extra laps, and to collect some data ahead of Donington GP next month.

“We went into the summer break on a really good note, with the Jack Sears win, so the aim is to come back at Croft in a few weeks and repeat that performance.”

Mikey Doble said: “As the others have said – a good, solid day, with plenty of mileage and a lot of information for us to take away and dissect.

“Donington GP is quite a special circuit, for me, as a lot of my big career milestones have happened here. It’s always a pleasure to drive, and I’ve enjoyed wrestling it in a touring car.

“There are some things you can’t really fit into a free practice session on a race weekend, so extra days like these are very useful as we keep moving up the grid.”