McMillan, 18, joins grid for 2009

Liam McMillan is to enter the HiQ British Touring Car Championship this year with family-run team Maxtreme. The 18-year-old, who will become the youngest driver on the grid, will race an ex-works SEAT Toledo in the championship.

The car has been acquired from BTC Racing and previously was raced by SEAT Sport UK in 2004 and 2005.

McMillan is entering only his fourth year of car racing. On his way to the BTCC the youngster has raced and impressed in several one-make championships. In 2006 he dominated the SAXMAX series for 14-17 year-olds, which was set up by his father Paul, taking nine wins out of ten races. More recently he has been racing in the SEAT Leon Supercopa series, putting in consistently strong performances. McMillan also competed in the 2007 BTCC-supporting SEAT Cupra championship.

Comparing last year’s car to this year’s touring car, McMillan told BTCC.net “The Leon I drove last year and the Toledo are very similar in speed, although the Toledo is a completely different car to drive. You really have to take the Toledo by the scruff of the neck and work hard inside the cockpit, because there is an awful lot going on!”

The team have tested several times during the winter, most recently at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk which is also McMillan’s ‘home’ circuit. “It was so cold at Snetterton that it was very difficult to get any heat into the rear tyres, but it was a good opportunity to get some miles under my belt” he said. “I’ve spent the last two weeks stripping the car down to a bare shell and rebuilding it, so it’s nice to finally get behind the wheel.”

McMillan will have a busy season ahead of him, especially as he owns the Maxtreme squad and runs the operational and engineering sides of the company.

Both McMillan and Maxtreme will get their first taste of BTCC action at Brands Hatch on April 5th.