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This is the first picture of Harry Vaulkhard testing the Chevrolet
Lacetti that  Robertshaw Racing will enter in this year’s HiQ MSA
British Touring Car Championship.
Vaulkhard, from
Newcastle and last year’s SEAT Cupra R champion, is testing today
(Friday) at Snetterton following an initial run yesterday at Donington
Park.
The Lacetti’s presence on the 2008 grid will
mark a return to the BTCC of the famous Chevrolet name since the
mid-1970s. Back then, its Camaros were a major force in the series and
Chevrolet itself ranks number four on the list of race wins for
manufacturers in the BTCC.
Newcastle-based Robertshaw plans to announce a driver for its second
Super 2000-spec Lacetti shortly – the squad will also continue to field
the older BTC-spec Honda Integra for Alan Taylor which debuted at
Knockhill’s rounds in 2007.
Robertshaw team
manager Jo Bradley told BTCC.net: “I can’t repeat Harry’s words when he
first got out of the car but he was happy! Certainly he said the
corners come up a lot quicker than he’s used to.
“The
car is fantastic. It’s RML-engineered and is just a beautiful piece of
work. It has run faultlessly out of the box. Our times have also been
very encouraging – on a very cold track, we did a low 1m14 at Donington
which is less than a second off pole there last summer and at
Snetterton (lunchtime) we’ve got down to a 13.5 which is just over a
second off last year’s pole.
“I think that
reflects really well on the team. We’re still new to BTCC and these are
our first two days of running an S2000-spec car. And of course Harry’s
still learning it all and the limits but instantly we’re setting
mid-grid times.
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