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Four
of the 12 finalists of Vauxhall’s
dynamic competition, the VXR Racing Driver of the Year, cheered on a
victorious Martin Wallbank, who won the 2007 Dunlop Maxx Sport
Production Car
Cup at Brands Hatch on Sunday in the Vauxhall VXR Astra .
Watching
the race action from the pit lane,
Adrian Trenholme (Milton Keynes), James Corte (Winchester), Nitin
Luthra (Bedford) and Simon Triglia from London all dreamt about what it
would be
like winning Vauxhall’s one-in-a-lifetime competition, which will see
the eventual winner competing in next year’s Dunlop Maxx Sport
Production Car Cup in a Vauxhall VXR Astra.
“It
was really good to come along to
Brands Hatch and see what it would really be like to be a racing
driver,” said Nitin Luthra from Bedford. “It was also nice to meet up
with Martin and it was great for us to witness him winning the title.”
Fellow finalists Trenholme, Corte, and
Triglia also got the chance to catch up with Wallbank to find out about his background and experience in motorsport.
“It
was nice to meet some of the guys and
I hope I was able to give them a few tips on how to prepare for the
Grand Final now,” said Wallbank, who has more than 20 years experience
as a
racing driver.
“They
have come a long way winning a
place in the final, but I think they will be in for a shock. Racing a
kart is one thing, but being competitive in a race car and to be able
to cope
with the immense pressure is another. It will get very tough for the
guys.”
The Grand Final with all 12 finalists will take
place in January 2008.
The
VXR Racing 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 and do not
hold a
valid MSA racing driver license.
More than 8,000 people entered online,
before the closing date in July. 2,000 of those took part in karting trials around the country.
The 12 finalists will now be taken
to a special VXR ‘boot camp’ where VXR’s Racing Driver of the Year will emerge. Dates for the boot camp will be announced
soon.
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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