Power Maxed Racing’s Switch to Audi Already Showing Promising BTCC Pace

[Source: TouringCars.net]

A lot of Audi racing focus the last six months has been on their Formula 1 effort. And while the early results in that race series have been mixed, the start of the 2026 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season has been much more positive.

Last October, we reported that the Power Maxed Racing (PMR) team decided to run Audi S3 in the 2026 BTCC season. It was a risky move as the S3 had not competed in BTCC since 2020. And the PMR had been racing the Vauxhall Astra since 2017. However, as TouringCars.net reports, the switch to Audi has paid early dividends despite a wild off-season.

Fire Forces Change

After a devastating fire at the team’s headquarters in late 2025 forced the squad to abandon its previous program, PMR entered the new season with an all-new Audi package and very limited testing time. Despite the rushed development process, the team has quickly emerged as one of the biggest surprises on the BTCC grid.

Driver Mikey Doble currently sits third in the championship standings after a strong start that includes podium finishes, a race win, and several victories in the Independents’ category. According to Doble, the team immediately felt confident in the new Audi’s potential. He praised the car’s speed, the chemistry between the drivers, and the team’s ability to extract strong pace in a variety of race conditions.

Continued Optimism

One reason for the optimism is the belief that the Audi platform still has significant room for improvement. Doble described the outgoing Vauxhall as a car that had already reached the limits of its development, while the Audi is still early in its evolution. He even suggested the new package should worry rival teams once the development curve continues upward.

Team Principal Adam Weaver made it clear that PMR’s ambitions extend far beyond class honors or PR-friendly Independents’ titles. His focus is firmly on competing for the overall championship. Weaver admitted the team had limited chassis options while rebuilding after the fire, but ultimately chose the Audi because of its aerodynamics, shape, and overall racing potential. The move also helped attract additional sponsorship support from companies connected to the Volkswagen Audi Group.

Perhaps the most impressive part of PMR’s early success is that the team has essentially been developing the Audi during race weekends. Weaver revealed the team has completed almost no formal testing beyond a brief shakedown and media sessions. That means every race weekend doubles as a learning opportunity for the new car.

While the Audi has already shown strong high-speed cornering ability and competitive straight-line performance, Weaver admitted traction out of slower corners still needs improvement. Tracks like Snetterton could expose those weaknesses. Even so, PMR’s early pace suggests Audi may now have one of the most promising new contenders in the BTCC paddock.