Latest news with #AdamWeaver
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Power Maxed race at Knockhill after fire at Worcestershire base
A racing team are back behind the wheel after their base was gutted by at Power Maxed Racing and parent company Automotive Brands in Breforton lost their warehouse, equipment and cars on 9 August when a wildfire swept through rural Adam Weaver described how he had watched 20 years of his working life "pretty much burn to nothing within 20 minutes".But this weekend, despite all odds, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) team managed to get on the grid at Knockhill, coming 15th in the final race. "Quitting's not in any of our vocabularies," Mr Weaver said."We will build back from this, one way or another."Although the team finished in every race at Knockhill, Mr Weaver said they were "not quite up to our normal standards". He said lots of people had "pulled together" to help the team, including by loaning them cars for their race at Knockhill, in Scotland, and allowing them to use warehouse space. "It was no easy feat though, because it was the furthest circuit away in the calendar," he added. After this season, Mr Weaver hopes that a "very generous" manufacturing company might donate some vehicles to allow Power Maxed to convert them into BTCC touring company plans to claim through insurance and is hoping to be operational again within a few Weaver previously said the heat of the fire, which had spread across 12 acres (4.8 hectares) of fields, was so intense it melted gearbox casings and reduced engines to molten metal.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Race team's cars destroyed as UK factory burns down in terrifying blaze
A blaze destroyed the factory and facilities of Power Maxed Racing only days ago, but still the team has travelled to Knockhill in Scotland to race in the British Touring Car Championship A beleaguered team will still race in the British Touring Car Championship this weekend despite the blaze which destroyed its factory. A wildfire last Saturday led to the destruction of Power Maxed Racing's base, near Bretforton in Worcestershire. The flames melted the team's Vauxhall Astra race cars, manufacturing facilities and stock warehouse at the base which also served as headquarters for car care product brands Power Maxed and Steel Seal. Owner Adam Weaver could only watch on in despair. He said: "I had to stand there and watch as 20 years of blood, sweat and tears burnt to the ground in about 20 minutes. Absolutely everything has gone, the manufacturing warehouse, stock warehouse and possibly the saddest of all, the race team. There is nothing at all left. Not a thing. "The heat was so intense it melted solid gearbox casings, reduced entire engines to warped molten metal, and left nothing but ash and twisted steel of the buildings. Years of work, equipment, and investment were destroyed in a matter of hours. All tools, spare parts and components have been lost." But Weaver has vowed to soldier on and the team still plans to race at Knockhill Circuit in Fife, Scotland, this weekend. Drivers Mikey Doble and Nick Halstead are set to compete in Cupra Leon cars, with special dispensation given to them by the BTCC. The cars have been borrowed from Un-Limited Motorsport and the family of driver Dexter Patterson, who Weaver said were only too happy to help. The cars arrived at Knockhill on Wednesday night in the team's "singed" transporter trucks – the only things to survive the fire as they were parked away from the buildings. Weaver suffered a further setback himself as his flight to Scotland was cancelled on Friday morning, forcing him to make the long drive north. But he will be there to watch on as, against the odds, his team heads out on track to compete despite all it has gone through in the last week. He told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "Anybody that's struggling with anything in their life right now whether it's personal, whether it's work, it just shows that you get the right people around you and look what can happen. It's going to be an emotional moment seeing those cars go out." In an open letter to "friends" of the team, he added: "Seeing a car go out in FP1 on Saturday will be one of the proudest moments of my life. It will show the tenacity of our team, our partners, and the incredible motorsport community. "This weekend is not just about racing, it is about proving what can be achieved when people pull together and never give up. I sincerely hope that by demonstrating this, it can also motivate others who may be facing difficulties in their own lives, ensuring that some positive outcomes can emerge from challenging situations. "Our factory may be gone, but our spirit is very much alive. If you can help in any way, no matter how small, please get in touch. Together, we can rebuild from the ashes – and show the world what true motorsport resilience looks like."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Power Maxed owner vows to rebuild racing car firm destroyed by fire
The boss of a motorsport team has vowed to "fight and rebuild" after its base was destroyed by a wildfire that swept through fields in rural and other equipment belonging to Power Maxed Racing and parent company Automotive Brands were wiped out in the blaze near Bretforton on Adam Weaver described how he watched 20 years of his working life "pretty much burn to nothing within 20 minutes".He said the race team base was destroyed, alongside the manufacturing and stock warehouse, adding that the heat was so intense it melted gearbox casings and reduced engines to molten metal. Mr Weaver said he got calls on Saturday to say there was a wildfire close to the warehouse, but when he got there he saw that the building itself was on fire. Power Maxed Racing competes in the British Touring Car Championship and Mr Weaver said the fire came days before a race at told BBC Hereford & Worcester that he had since been offered the loan of two cars and they had been prepared in just three days, adding that the weekend's race offered the team "something positive to focus on"."Anybody that's struggling with anything in their life right now whether it's personal, whether it's work, it just shows that you get the right people around you and look what can happen," he said."It's going to be an emotional moment seeing those cars go out." Mr Weaver, who posted a video on social media on the day of the fire, said the site now had burnt-out containers where doors had popped open, twisted and contorted from the said concrete slabs had been reduced to gravel, adding: "There's just a tremendous amount of destruction - warehouses completely melted and twisted and fallen down, no sign of the products that were actually inside."You'd almost think the shelves were empty. The racking's all twisted and bent with nothing on it. It's horrible to see."He said the fire damaged a "massive amount of touring car history" and Power Maxed Racing touring cars had gone as well as trophies. The businessman who has appealed for support said: "Our factory may be gone, but our spirit is very much alive." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
