Dave Newsham joins Power Maxed Racing for 2015 BTCC season

British Touring Car Championship race winner Dave Newsham will drive Power Maxed Racing's recently-acquired Chevrolet Cruze saloon in 2015.

The Scotsman, who has driven a AmD Ford Focus and Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis in the previous two seasons, has taken over driving duties from former team owner Chris Stockton.

Power Maxed's parent company Automotive Brands acquired Stockton's BTC Racing team and TOCA BTCC Licence last week and Newsham will race the ex-Aiden Moffat saloon Cruze instead of the team's own hatchback version from last year.

New owner Adam Weaver said the team would grow to bigger things this year.

"Signing Dave is an important part of our master-plan for 2015," he said. "Dave is an exceptional racer, you only have to look at his track record and race wins, podiums and the Jack Sears Trophy to see why signing Dave was a no brainer.

"Chris Stockton has given us a great platform, he did lots of hard yards last year to enable us to hit the ground running this season. It is important to note that without Chris and his input, we would be nowhere."

Newsham, who won two races in an S2000 Vauxhall Vectra in 2012, said he was "over the moon" to be back on the grid after losing his AmD drive to Renault Clio Cup UK champion Mike Bushell.

"Adam Weaver and I have discussed our objectives at great length and we are both heading in the same direction," he added.

"The teams' professionalism and its new ownership are fantastic. I believe we will have a great platform for success in 2015."

2015 BTCC LINE-UP SO FAR

MG
Andrew Jordan, Jack Goff

Honda (yet to confirm)
Matt Neal, Gordon Shedden

Infiniti
Richard Hawken, Derek Palmer Jr

WSR BMW
Andy Priaulx, Sam Tordoff, Rob Collard

Motorbase Ford
Alex Martin, tba, tba

Team BMR VW
Colin Turkington, Jason Plato, Aron Smith, Warren Scott

Ciceley Racing Mercedes
Adam Morgan

Eurotech Honda
Jeff Smith, tba

Rob Austin Racing Audi
Rob Austin, Hunter Abbott