Dan Lloyd will make a return to the British Touring Car Championship in 2021, racing Power Maxed Racing’s second Vauxhall Astra alongside Jason Plato.
Lloyd, 29, last raced in the BTCC in 2018, when he stepped in to BTC Racing from the Oulton Park round onwards, including winning his maiden BTCC race in his second meeting with the team at Croft.
The Huddersfield racer has never completed a full season of racing in the BTCC, and 2021 marks only the second time that Lloyd will start a BTCC season, after he raced in the first four events of 2017 with Triple Eight Racing.
In recent years Lloyd has focussed on TCR competition, winning the 2018 TCR UK title before focussing on TCR Europe in 2019 and 2020, where he was a title contender.
Lloyd has also raced in the full TCR China season in 2019, and TCR Malaysia in 2020, being a race winner in both series.
Both Lloyd and Power Maxed Racing have signalled their intent for a ‘multi-year’ deal.
“I do feel like I’ve got unfinished business,” said Lloyd to TouringCars.Net. “I’ve obviously dipped in and out of BTCC over the years – I’ve just gone in when the opportunities have come around.
“I’ve always struggled getting that full season deal. Now that I’ve got it with a very good team I want to grab it with both hands and make the most of it and make sure it’s more than a one-year deal.
“I’m excited to be Jason’s team-mate – it will be good to try and help him on the track at times. I’ll definitely be a team player.
“It will be good to learn from him on and off the track. He’s got so much experience – I’ve worked with him a little bit from the KX academy when I was Porsche Carrera Cup – and I really get on with Jason. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m mega excited to be racing back in the UK, and this will be the first time I’ll be heading into the championship with some pre season testing under my belt.
“I’m really looking to build on this a long-term partnership and launch a multi-year attack at the championship heavyweights.”
Lloyd explained that due to the deal with PMR, his role in supporting the Brutal Fish Racing team in TCR Europe would change for this season.
“I was going to be coaching for Martin [Ryba], my team boss. I’m going to be helping the team, but I’ll struggle to get to most of the rounds now because they clash with BTCC.
“I’ve obviously told Martin and he’s a friend of mine as well, so he’s very happy for me that I’ve got a drive this season. Everything is good there and I’ll still be helping where I can.
“The decision to do BTCC was just about timing. The only reason why I haven’t done it in the past is because the right opportunity hasn’t been there.
“It’s just [being in] the right place at the right time and this one has worked.
“It is a very, very nice thing to be racing in the UK this year but that’s just a little added bonus, the main thing is that I’ve got a great opportunity in touring cars.”
Adam Weaver, PMR Team Principal, believes that in Plato and Lloyd the team has one of the best driver line-ups on the 2021 grid.
“I’m really excited to have Dan joining us for the upcoming season,” said Weaver. “He’s a driver that’s always been on our radar, and has always impressed when he’s been on the grid in the past.
“I don’t think anyone can argue that with the right equipment underneath him, he’s a genuine championship contender, and with the championship’s most successful driver ever alongside him, we certainly think we have one of the strongest pairings on the grid this season.”
Team Manager Martin Broadhurst previously worked with Lloyd when he made his BTCC début in 2010 in a one-off outing in Triple Eight Racing’s Vauxhall Vectra.
“I have known Dan since his first venture into BTCC in 2010 in the Vectra,” said Broadhurst. “From that moment on he has impressed with great results and performances in every touring car championship he’s competed in, including his race win in the BTCC, and I think he’ll be a great asset to the team.
“With Dan and Jason in the cars this year, I believe we have one of the strongest pairings on the grid, and couple with the development work we’ve done over winter, I’m looking forward to this season more than ever!”