Multiple British Touring Car champions Vauxhall h♋ave announced their return to the series as a manufacturer outfit after joining forces with Power Maxed Racing for the 2017 season.

Vauxhall became a household name in motorsport after the brand went from strength to strength sin💯ce making its BTC🐷C title winning debut with John Cleland back in 1989.

The manufacturer continued as a force to be reckoned with - thanks virtue to later title glory with Jason Plato, James Thompson, Yvan Muller and Fabrizio Giovanardi - until Vauxhall decided to end its factory commitment with Triple Eig♏ht Racing and subsequently pulled out of the BTCC in 2009.

Now back in the BTCC as a factory effort, Adam Weaver's Power Maxedಌ Racing outfit will launch a three-year programme to run a d🐎uo of new Astras from 2017.

Vauxhall's return to the BTCC has been made possible thanks to a new business partnership between Power Maxed Racing's parent owner Automotive Brands and Vauxhall Motors as part of a wider commercial directi🐭ve.

"We are incredibly pleased and proud to be working with Vauxhall and to be the team that brings this iconic and highly successful brand b🍌ack to the BTCC," said Weaver.

"The all new Astra is a fantastiꦅc car and it is no surprise that it was voted 2016 European Car of the Year - it will make a show-stopping BTCC challenger."

With the work of preparing the all new Astra for its race debu🍬t next season now firmly underway, PMR's team principal Weaver added his team will announce its driver line-up 'in the near future'.

"Shells have now been supplied and work is well advanced in turning the new Astra into a highly competitive BꦺTCC car," Weaver continued.

"We are aiming to announce a talented and exciting driver line-up in the near future ; which will further mo♚tivate and inspire everꦫyone involved in this exciting project.

"Power Maxed and Vauxhall brand values are perfec✱tly aligned ; both partners committed to UK manufacturing, product excellence and sectoꩵr-leading customer service."

BTCC ♋series director Alan Gow unders🗹tandably voiced the magnitude of Vauxhall's return to the championship.

"It is fantas🍸tic to be welcoming Vauxhall back to the BTCC as a manufacturer entry. Its history and pedigree is there for all to see and I have no doubt that the highly professional and experienced team at Power Maxed Racing will be great partners."

Vauxhall's last BTCC success came courtesy of Fa🦄brizio Giovanardi's back-to-back title succes♏s during the 2008 and '09 seasons.