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Vauxhall can today announce it
has signed double Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion (BTCC), Matt Neal, to drive for the marque’s works team, VX Racing, in
2008.
Neal,
who has yet to sample the
Vauxhall Vectra, says he was enticed by the car’s dominant performance
in this year’s championship, as it won the manufacturers and
drivers titles with Fabrizio Giovanardi taking an unrivalled ten
victories.
“I’ve
always
tried to make the best decision for my career at the time,” said Neal,
who has been racing for family-run outfit, Team Halfords since 2004.
“The last few years have been fantastic with Halfords. We’ve had two
championships but life is about new challenges and goals and I see
Vauxhall as something different and the prospects of the Vectra look
very good for 2008.”
Neal
has been one of
Vauxhall’s greatest rivals over the years, bringing the manufacturer’s
four-year domination to an end in 2005 by becoming the first
none-Vauxhall driver to win the BTCC driver title since 2000.
“We’ve been very
impressed by Matt’s approach over the years,” said VX Racing’s Brand Manager Stuart Harris. “He’s been a great
ambassador for the sport with his clean, progressive racing, and we’re delighted to add him to the squad.”
Neal
is familiar with
Vauxhall’s operational staff after driving for the manufacturer’s
second team, Egg Sport, in 2002 winning three races and finishing
third overall.
“I’ve
always
admired VX Racing as a good professional team with a friendly
atmosphere,” said Neal. “Racing against them, they were annoyingly
consistent! When they were running the all-conquering Astras in the
early 2000s, it was tough because they would be knocking in the results
day-in-and-day-out!”
Neal
will partner Giovanardi at
VX Racing, after it was recently announced the Italian has signed for
his third season with the Vauxhall works team. “I’m going into it
wanting to do the best job,” said Neal. “I want to win races and
championships but if I can’t do the latter I will do my utmost
to aid my team-mate along the way. I’m a team player and always have
been.”
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