Lines returns to Maximum BTCC Ford Focus, set to complete season
Stewart Lines will return to the British Touring Car Championship at next weekend's Snetterton round at the wheel of his Maximum Motorsport Ford Focus
The 54-year-old operates the team but stepped back from driving for 2017 as a cycling accident over the winter left him with injuries including a broken pelvis.
Maximum signed Josh Cook to race for the 2017 season, but Cook left before June's Croft meeting to take up a seat at the MG squad vacated by Daniel Lloyd.
Swede Dennis Strandberg replaced Cook in the Focus at Croft, but Lines has now decided to make a return and will contest the rest of the campaign.
He is scheduled to remain in the car due to restrictions on the number of driver changes a team is allowed to make during a season.
"We tried to make it work with a younger driver, and I thought the summer break would have given us time to find another racer with some budget, but that hasn't been the case," said Lines.
"Rather than being left high and dry with the team, the best option was for me to do the rest of the year to make sure we can fulfil our commitment to be on the grid."
Lines added the team, which is operated in conjunction with Team Parker Racing, would refocus its efforts around a younger driver for the 2018 season.
"It is going to be tough for me to jump back in. I'm 54 and older than a lot of the other drivers' dads," said Lines.
"If I'm able to get any results, then it might be a bit embarrassing for others on the grid!"
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