![Mike Bushell, Power Maxed Car Care Racing [PMR], Vauxhall Astra](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Bushell_01-2.jpg "Photo: BTCC Media")
A sore Mike Bushell says he is ‘keen’ to work towards returning to the British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, despite crashing out heavily at Knockhill last weekend.
Bushell joined the 2020 BTCC grid at Oulton Park for the two back-to-back events culminating in Knockhill last weekend.
Behind the wheel of Power Maxed Racing’s Vauxhall Astra, Bushell showed promising pace at Oulton Park and went north to Scotland with high hopes.
The 31-year-old again proved his pace in qualifying on Saturday, ending up as the seventh fastest driver around the short Knockhill circuit.
Race day proved to be more disappointing for Bushell and the team, as an off-track excursion in race one meant he could finish no better than 21st and two laps down, after a pit stop to clear out grass from the radiator intake.
Bushell made progress up to 16th in race two, thereby also improving his grid position for the final race of the weekend.
Race three, however, lasted just a few corners as Bushell got caught up in an accident involving the spinning Ollie Jackson ahead, before being clattered by Sam Osborne’s Honda at the chicane.
The extensive damage to the cars caused the red flags to come out, whilst Bushell picked up some minor injuries in the shunt.
Despite the accident, Bushell is keen to work towards returning to the grid at the next round at Thruxton to extend his run of 2020 events to at least three.
“I’m feeling a little bit sore,” said Bushell. “I’m just keen to find out how the car is looking, and work towards returning at Thruxton if we can make it happen between us.
“The car is fast on a single lap after getting to grips with it and working on setup with the team, but I need to improve a little on race pace.
“I was very disappointed in myself in race one, and I struggled to hold off Matt Neal and [Aiden] Moffat until I made an error into Turn 1 mid-race, which meant a visit to the pits was inevitable, costing us a guaranteed points finish in the race.”
PMR Team Principal Adam Weaver is confident that the team will be able to have the car repaired in the three-week break between races.
“The most important thing is that Mike is OK after what was quite a nasty accident,” said Weaver.
“Luckily, he’s taken it in his stride, despite a seriously painful shoulder and wrist, and is concentrating on being back in the car at Thruxton.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that the car will be repaired quickly, and I know the guys in the workshop will be working their socks off to get it back in race trim and ready to go out and get some trophies!
“We’re lucky that we have the equipment in-house to repair the chassis to TOCA standards-a luxury that many don’t have.”