Smalley wins
Adam Smalley won the Junior Max Rotax Winter Cup Final in Valencia earlier this month after fellow Briton Mark Kimber was penalised. Strawberry Racing driver Kimber grabbed the lead from his team-mate Axel Charpentier on the final lap but as the pair battled in the final chicane, Kimber was forced off the track. Despite taking the flag, both Kimber and Charpentier were later penalised, handing Smalley the win. There was more British success in the DD2 Final as Ed Brand mastered the wet weather to take the win.
British Touring Car Championship race winner Dave Newsham will switch to the MSA British Rallycross Championship this season with Power Maxed Racing.
Newsham will race the Ford Fiesta Supercar that team principal Adam Weaver had originally planned to drive himself in the series.
“I’m really looking forward to a great season in British Rallycross,” said the 2014 BTCC Jack Sears Trophy winner, who first experienced rallycross by racing a Citroen Saxo in the Rallycross Grand Prix in 2014.
“I love watching the action on TV, it’s one of the most exciting forms of motorsport there is. I had the pleasure of sampling it for myself at the 2014 GP, and that got me hooked.
“I really enjoyed working with Power Maxed last year and I am delighted to be remaining part of the family and looking forward to a long future with the team. It’ll take a bit of getting used to as I’ve spent the last few seasons trying to avoid the gravel, but getting behind the wheel of a 600bhp monster is going to be fantastic, I can’t wait to get going!”
Power Maxed boss Weaver says the team will use its recently acquired Ford Fiesta in 2016 before building new cars for next year.
“It’s great news for the team that Dave has agreed to take a sabbatical from the BTCC to help Power Maxed Racing in our development year in British Rallycross,” said Weaver. “I was planning to drive myself but when the opportunity arose to put Dave in the seat, it was one not to be missed. I’m incredibly passionate about rallycross and its potential, and bringing a proven name like Dave is not only good news for us, but good news for the championship.
“We are taking a phased approach into the series, this year we will be entering a proven car before going on to build our own cars for 2017.”