Martin Wallbank, title contender for the inaugural BARC Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Car Cup (Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup), has thrown his full support behind Vauxhall’s campaign to find the VXR Racing Driver of the Year.
The competition, which is now in its second stage with karting knock-out rounds across the country, will see one lucky winner get the chance to do battle with Wallbank in 2008 courtesy of a fully-funded drive in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup. “I think Vauxhall’s competition is the ideal platform for the general public to get their foot in the motorsport door,” said Wallbank, who drives a Vauxhall Astra VXR in the series. “Not only will the winner become a real racing driver, he or she will start at a level that’s normally
near-impossible to jump in at without any previous experience.”
Vauxhall’s prize is worth a staggering £80,000, with the winner racing at all six UK race circuits visited by the series. Should Wallbank remain for a second season in 2008 he will provide some stiff competition for the VXR Racing Driver of the Year, after impressing
on-lookers so far with some spectacular racing to leave him tied for the title lead. “The Series is a genuine stepping stone to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and the competition is quite tough,” said Wallbank. “The person who wins the VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition will find racing in this series very difficult, but I’m sure the best person will win. Once they’ve been put through this gruelling test by Vauxhall, they will be prepared to take on anything!”
 The next outing of the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup will be at Croft in North Yorkshire this coming weekend and Wallbank will pull out all stops in a bid to take the Series’ lead with three meetings left.
The VXR Driver of the Year competition was open to all drivers over the age of 21, with the only stipulation being they should have no motorsport experience. More than 8,000 people entered online, before the closing date last month. Now 2,000 of those are taking part in karting trials around the country. The 12 best karters will be taken to a special VXR ‘boot camp’ where VXR’s Driver of the Year will emerge. The Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup is not run on a point system. The winner of a race is granted four tyres, the second-place entrant is granted two tyres, and so on. The winner is the person granted the most tyres over the season.
The karting semi-finals 08 September Raceway, Edinburgh (first two semi-finalists found) 09 September Daytona Racing, Manchester (second two semi-finalists found – 4 total) 15 September Teeside Karting & Autodrome (third two semi-finalists found – 6 total) 16 September Daytona Racing, Milton Keynes (fourth two semi-finalists found – 8 total) 22 September Thruxton Karting Centre (fifth two semi-finalists found – 10 total) 23 September The Raceway, Kings Cross (sixth two semi-finalists found – 12 total) Since first entering the BTCC in 1989, Vauxhall’s works team has won 16 titles: - Six Drivers Championships (2004 James Thompson, 2003 Yvan Muller, 2002 James Thompson, 2001 Jason Plato, 1995 John Cleland, 1989 John Cleland)
- Six Manufacturers Championships (2005 VXR Astra Sport Hatch, 2004 Astra Coupé, 2003 Astra Coupé, 2002 Astra Coupé, 2001 Astra Coupé, 1992 Cavalier GSi)
- Four Team Titles (2004, 2003, 2002, 2001)
It is the most successful manufacturer in the modern era of BTCC, having accumulated 109 race wins. |
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