BIDFORD-on-Avon team Power Maxed Racing aim to impress this weekend at Donington Park after showing Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship promise in the opening round at Brands Hatch.

Tom Chilton took third in race three, Senna Proctor received the Jack Sears Trophy and PMR were awarded the manufacturers trophy for round one. 

Chilton qualified 12th and 18-year-old championship debutant Proctor 16th before they finished 10th and 17th respectively in the opening race.

They then followed up with Chilton ninth and third and Proctor 13th and 19th in the next two races in the Vauxhall Astras.

Chilton said: "It was a great race for the team at PMR and it's awesome to be back on the podium with Vauxhall again in the BTCC." 

Team principal Adam Weaver said: "I am thrilled. The team have worked so hard over the winter and for them to be rewarded with a great bunch of results is fantastic.

"Tom drove brilliantly, we know he is a class act, and he showed his pace and maturity and Senna is one to watch."

Pershore team Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Gordon Shedden travels to Donington Park as the man to beat while team-mate Matt Neal seeks to take full advantage of home support.

Defending champion Shedden grabbed a Brands Hatch victory and runner-up finish in his Honda Civic Type R to secure a six-point lead in the drivers’ standings.

Fellow three-time title-winner Neal was fourth in race three in a tough meeting.

Shedden said: “The championship lead obviously comes with its own challenge in the form of a 75kg handicap going into qualifying but it’s clear the advantage is going to ebb and flow throughout the season.

"We saw at Brands Hatch how close it is in qualifying and how competitive the BTCC is going to be this year so there’s no question Donington will be tough for me on Saturday and early doors Sunday with so many fast, light cars in the field.

"The goal is to leave still leading the championship although quite how I do that I haven’t figured out yet.”

Neal said: “I came away from Brands Hatch feeling positive. Of course I was disappointed by the overall result but I was dead chuffed with the way I was able to battle back through in races two and three and the Civic Type R felt great.

"One thing that is very clear from Brands is the field is of an immensely high calibre this year and you really do have to fight for every single position.

"I’ll be light going to Donington. I need to make the most of that by qualifying on the front two rows of the grid and bringing away a big bagful of points.

"It’s always great to race at my local track and I have a lot of special memories there, going right back to my very first BTCC win in 1999.”