Former two-ti🎐me British Touring Car Champiღonship race winner Dave Newsham will make his return to the series for Power Maxed Racing as Kelvin Fletcher's replacement for this weekend's Knockhill meeting.

Fletcher is set to return to fray in time for Rockingham but misses the BTCC's annual voyage to Scotland due to the💜 imminent birth of his first child.

"As much as I love the BTCC, and I love to race, the birth of my first ch🐷ild is not something I can miss, Liz is due any day now, and I just can't be in two places🥂 at once," said Fletcher.

"I feel like I have been making progress this y⛦ear and am aware that I don't want to lose the momentum, and the BTCC demands 100% focus, but I wan😼t to be there to support Liz.

"It is great to see fellow PMR driver and local hero Dave step in for Knockhill, he has an excellen♔t track record there, and I can't think of anybody I'd rather have to keep the seat warm."

Newsham🎐 is no stranger to Power Maxe💛d Racing having driven for the Chevrolet outfit alongside MG's Josh Cook last season.

Despite los🀅ing his BTCC seat for 2016 thဣe 49-year old has remained an integral part of the PMR fold due to his British Rallycross commitments with the squad.

Newsham achieved his best overall finish of ninth in the 2012 drivers' standings after clinching both of his BဣTCC wins for the ES Racing.com Vauxhall outfit during that season.

His last podium ℱin the series ironi🌱cally came at his home circuit after famously finishing second for the AmD Tuning.com squad.

"The BTCC has always held a special place in my heart, and when Adam (Weaver) approached me to stand in for Kelvin, I couldn't get the word yes out fast enough. The team and car were great last yea♍r and with the u🉐pgrades for this year; I can't wait to get back behind the wheel.

"Kelvin has made significant progress in the car 𒈔this year but family is family, and we'll keep our ears open for baby news this weekend."