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29/08/08 Meet The Fan In The Van!
Football fans across the country will have the opportunity to vent their views from the comfort of a British-built Vivaro Doublecab during the 2008-09 season, thanks to a tie-in between Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles and talkSPORT radio. A specially-liveried Vivaro will be touring the UK during the football season, with talkSPORT’s presenters carrying out live interviews with fans on their way to matches to build up the atmosphere in the prelude to a big game. ‘Fan in the Van’ participants will be given the opportunity to air their opinions on their team’s performance throughout the season, and to predict the outcome of matches live on talkSPORT’s Saturday Match Day Live programme. The Luton-built van was presented to talkSPORT by Vauxhall’s marketing director, Andy Gilson, and CV Brand manager, Steve Bryant, as part of a three-year sponsorship deal between Vauxhall and talkSPORT, which began last season. Towards the end of the 2008-09 season, a Vivaro similar to the ‘Fan in the Van’ one will be given away as part of a talkSPORT listener competition. talkSPORT’s Match Day Live programme is broadcast every Saturday during the football season, between 12.00pm and 5.00pm. 20/07/08 Škoda Retailer Triumphs At Man International Rally Škoda retailer John Mullholland in his Škoda Fabia fought hard at the Manx International Rally to finish as the fastest diesel powered car. John beat off challenges from British championship contenders Fin McCaul in his BMW and Keith Bird in his new Vauxhall Astra Diesel to achieve the impressive result. The Škoda Fabia with its advanced diesel engine finished a respectable 21st overall and 2nd in class, winning by a 34 second margin. John, who owns one of Northern Ireland’s largest retailers, comments: “Our Škoda ran faultlessly over the three days. We were put under real pressure from the very first stage by BMW and Vauxhall and had to push like mad through the adverse weather conditions. “Finally over the last 7 stages the French team of Guichot De Fortis in their Honda Integra challenged us really hard for the second prize but we managed to hold off their attack,” adds John. “Škoda are having a great year so far after great results at the Donegal Rally, so we’re in great spirits to take on the pack again at the Ulster International. I’d like to extend my thanks to our sponsors NIIB and Millers Oils who have made our campaign possible.”
11/08/08 Top Scorers VX Racing Head To Knockhill
13/07/08 Race Three Bulletin
13/07/08 Race Two Bulletin Giovanardi in his VXR Vectra also recorded the fastest lap of the race, with a time of 1:12.248, which was over half a second quicker than his fellow competitors.
13/07/08 Race One Bulletin
13/07/08 VX Racing Give A Championship Winning Performance
03/07/08 Škoda Auto Appears at Rally Bohemia Just as many times in the past, the 35th Rally Bohemia will again, on 4 July, start from the Škoda Auto Museum in Mladá Boleslav. Beginning on Friday, 4 July, the rally will take place under the auspices of the car manufacturer with the winged arrow in its emblem. Surrounded by Škoda’s “automobile town”, the rally promises to offer an attractive show, a vintage car race and, as part of the start-ramp presentation, the first appearance of the prototype of the Škoda Fabia Super 2000, the company's latest competition vehicle. The test drivers involved in the vehicle testing and optimisation process of the Fabia Super 2000 Rally Car included Jan Kopecký, one of the most talented Czech rally drivers, the many-times Austrian Rally champion Raimund Baumschlager, the Finnish ex-champion Sebastian Lindholm and, most recently, the two-time world champion and a rally icon Carlos Sainz. The Škoda Fabia Super 2000 is fitted with a two-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine based on the standard 2.0. FSI / 110 kW unit, a six-speed sequential transmission, four-wheel drive and three passive differentials. The length of the vehicle is 3,992 mm, the width 1,978 mm and the wheel base 2,486 mm. All parameters of the vehicle comply with the FIA regulations. 02/07/08 The Cube and GT-R (Missile) Crisis? Not at Goodwood!
When you manufacture one of the world’s most capable supercars, yet are simultaneously developing the emissions-free vehicles of the near future, what better way to showcase that technology than at the hugely popular Goodwood Festival of Speed? Thus, while examples of Nissan’s seriously fast racing machinery and production sports cars will once more be pounding up the hill, the event also marks the UK debut of an altogether different Nissan, the Denki Cube electric vehicle concept. And putting in its first UK showing is the second generation Murano which goes on sale here later in the year. Nissan performance comes in the shape of the all-conquering 1999 Primera BTCC car and the awesome GT-R supercar, while Carlos Tavares*, executive vice president, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, will be piloting the 350Z that participated in both the Dubai and Nurburgring 24 hour endurance events. BTCC Primera: a Goodwood champion This will be the car’s fourth appearance and once again will be piloted by BTCC veteran Anthony Reid who will be trying to emulate previous performances at the Sussex spectacular. GT-R: the accessible supercar Although the GT-R made a somewhat clandestine foray to the top of the track at last year’s event prior to its worldwide reveal at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, this time round the new Nissan flagship certainly won’t be hiding its light under a bushel and visitors will be able to see it in the super car paddock, on the Nissan stand and on runs up the hill. Its all-new 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 produces 480 PS at 6,400 rpm and 588 Nm of torque between 3,200 and 5,200 rpm, sufficient for an astonishing 0-62 mph sprint of around 3.5 seconds and a potential top speed of 195 mph (provisional). It is the car’s ground covering capabilities that mark it out, however; all that power is transmitted via a paddle-shifted 6-speed dual clutch rear transaxle coupled to an advanced all-wheel drive system. Underpinning them are sophisticated and adaptable electronic controls designed to make best use of output in all conditions without diluting driving enjoyment. Stark demonstration of the GT-R’s potential recently came at the infamous Nordschleife (Nurburgring), where, in the hands of chief test driver Tochio Suzuki, the GT-R put in a lap time of 7m 29s, one of the fastest ever achieved by a production car. Most remarkable of all is that prices start from just £52,900. UK GT-R customers are being offered the opportunity to participate in events at Silverstone or the Nurburgring as part of an innovative Race Academy programme. As well as receiving guidance on getting the most from the GT-R in the controlled environment of a track and the opportunity to learn how to ‘drift’ in a Nissan 350Z, participants will also be offered the opportunity to build upon their skills, eventually leading to obtaining an MSA-approved racing licence. Murano: the new generation sports crossover It boasts elegant new looks – indeed every body panel is revised – and inside, a genuinely luxurious cabin featuring new instruments, seats, improved quality materials, double stitched leather and aluminium trim lift it from sporting SUV to luxury saloon in a single move. The new platform is 45 per cent stiffer to maintain handling performance while offering greater comfort and improved refinement. Fully independent suspension includes a new multi-link arrangement at the rear and a revised strut system at the front, and speed sensitive power steering gives a more direct feel at higher speeds. Performance is improved by a revised 3.5-litre V6 engine now developing 256 PS and 334 Nm without penalising fuel economy – in fact it improves, rising from 23.0 to 25.9 mpg combined. The V6 is mated to an extensively re-engineered Xtronic CVT transmission which reduces friction losses by 20 per cent. Key features include a full-length sunroof, a power operated tailgate and the availability of folding rear seats that can be raised at the press of a button. Sales commence towards the end of the year. Denki Cube Concept: square, white and very green In place of a petrol engine comes an electric motor powered by laminated lithium-ion batteries manufactured by Automotive Energy Supply Corp., a joint venture between Nissan and NEC Corp. The battery structure offers more power, energy and stability and the compact size aids packaging flexibility. And the car’s seemingly strange name? All pretty logical really: ‘Denki’ is the Japanese for ‘electric’ and ‘Cube’ aptly describes its appearance. In a world of curves, the Cube is very much the antithesis of traditional automotive style – square, minimalist and asymmetrical – yet it is also warm, practical and has a certain charm. Denki Cube Concept is all about enjoyable efficiency and the interior reflects the design team’s desire to create a relaxing, moving social hub, a bit like a favourite room in the owner’s house. Just two rows of seats compared to the standard Cube’s three and a full fixed glass panel enhances the sense of spaciousness, while a wheelbase increased by 9.4 inches provides the extra space necessary to accommodate the battery pack.
24/06/08 Škoda Wins Donegal Rally The Škoda Fabia World Rally Car (WRC) driven by Eugene Donnelly has beaten off stiff competition from Ford and Subaru to win the Donegal Rally. Donnelly was on the pace from the start and took the lead during the second stage, maintaining his position throughout. Sky Sports’ Formula One commentator, Tony Jardine, finished a worthy 37th in his Škoda Octavia WRC while Škoda retailer John Mullholland in his Škoda Fabia Diesel finished a respectable 47th out of 151 starters. John, who owns one of Northern Ireland’s largest retailers, comments: “Never before in an international rally of this magnitude have we seen a Fabia WRC finish first with two other Škodas finishing in such respectable positions. “The result has helped us towards gaining entry into next year’s Rally Ireland which is the first round of the World Rally Championship. These results are testament to the power, high build quality and resilience of Škodas. However, celebrations on the day were dampened by a tragic accident in which a spectator lost his life.
06/05/08 Vauxhall Heritage Centre Open Day – An Astra-nomical day out
The world’s biggest private collection of classic Vauxhalls is to throw its doors open to the public for one day only, and for 2008 we’ll also be celebrating 10 million Astra sales since the model first appeared in 1980. This year, the Vauxhall Heritage Centre’s annual open day, run to coincide with the Luton Festival of Transport, will mark the history of its best seller. A range of Astras will be on display dating back to the MK1, including specials such as the 4S rally car and an ex-BTCC racer. We’ll also make a feature of the car’s predecessors – the Chevette and the Viva, both of which were built at the current Astra’s home – GM’s Ellesmere Port factory. Based at the Heritage Centre in Park Street, Luton, the event takes place on Sunday June 8th 2008 with free entry, and while the Astra will take centre stage, visitors can also view the company’s 50-plus strong collection of classics. From the very first 1903 Vauxhall through to ‘modern’ classics such as the last ever Monaro, the Heritage Collection contains over a century’s worth of classic Vauxhall models, including favourites such as the Lotus Carlton, the racy VXR 220, and the latest addition to the fleet, a 1975 Vauxhall HP Firenza ‘Droop Snoot’ awaiting light restoration. There will also be entertainment throughout the day for all the family, including a BTCC racing simulator plus children’s activities. The open day will run from 10am to 5pm and a free bus service will run throughout the day between the Vauxhall Heritage Centre and the Luton Festival of Transport at Stockwood Park – ideal for those who want a fantastic classic transport themed day out! 29/04/08 Donington Park Preview Multiple touring car champions, VX Racing continue their quest to add another British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) title to their existing roll of honour, when they take to the track this weekend at Donington Park for rounds seven, eight and nine. The 1.96 miles of the Leicestershire circuit always provides thrilling action, and last year the torrential wet conditions did not play favourably for VX Racing. However the team, who has already scored three victories from six races this season, is confident of adding to its points tally in the manufacturers’ title fight. Three weeks ago at Rockingham Circuit, double ex-BTCC Champion Matt Neal scored an incredible victory in the wet, and has every intention this weekend of adding more points to his championship challenge. Birmingham based Neal can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of his Vectra VXR, but doesn’t expect everything to go his way: “Donington is a great track and the Vectra VXR is a strong car, however this weekend is not going to be easy; expect really close racing and we will truly have to fight for every point. “I class Donington Park as my local track. I have a lot of fond memories and this is where I won my first ever BTCC race, as well as clinched my first BTCC title, so fingers crossed for more success come Sunday.” Giovanardi said of his expectations for this weekend: “Donington Park is not one of my favourite tracks for sure, but I have a good car so I hope to have a good weekend. This year it’s a tougher season, there are eight drivers who can consistently be quick and get points, so I think to be the winner you will need to be more strategic in how you attack the races.” Surrey’s Tom Onslow-Cole is upbeat for the weekend: “I like Donington, it is a quick track and I feel really positive going into the weekend because I had my first saloon car victory here. It would be nice if the rain would just hold-off for once though.” Vauxhall’s 2007 BTCC Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi is currently first in the drivers’ championship with 63 points; team-mates Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole have a credible 47 points and 20 points respectively after six of this season’s 30 races. 24/04/08 Toyota’s Virtual Crash Test Dummies Help Racecar Safety The FIA Institute and Toyota have combined technology and expertise to help improve safety in high speed racecar accidents. Toyota has been using a computer simulation system, called Total Human Model Safety (THUMS), to help it design safer production vehicles for several years. THUMS is a virtual representation of the human body that can provide Toyota engineers with precise data about the injuries real people might suffer in different kinds of vehicle accidents. The FIA Institute and Toyota have worked together to use the THUMS system to recreate high speed accidents and their effects on human physiology, allowing them to study the kind of serious injuries that are difficult to measure with conventional crash test dummies. The results of the new study are in the process of completion. The FIA Institute targeted this technology specifically to help study high speed rear impact crashes in the FIA Formula One World Championship and Indy Racing League (IRL). THUMS has proved very effective for analysis of the complex interaction between the driver’s body and the car in a high speed accident. The FIA Institute and Dr Terry Trammell, a fellow of the FIA Institute and consultant to IRL, have provided data on accidents of this type and information on racecar seat structures. These have been used by Toyota to create virtual collisions using THUMS and simulated racecar seat designs, which have succeeded in replicating spinal injuries from high speed rear impact collisions. This co-operative effort has led to a determination of the mechanism for spinal-stress build-up – the result of a combination of G-forces and the specific seating position used in F1 and IRL racecars. The research has prompted consideration of what measures might be taken to reduce stress on the spine during rear impact collisions.
13/04/08 VX Racing End On A High Ay BTCC Rockingham VX Racing’s Matt Neal put in stunning performances at today’s 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Rockingham, Northamptonshire, securing his first-ever Vauxhall race win for the Luton-based manufacturer to begin his hunt for the championship title. VX Racing came away from Northamptonshire still heading the pack in all three championship standings, with Fabrizio Giovanardi leading the BTCC Drivers’ Championship by seven points. Race one Neal, who started from second on the grid in his Vectra VXR, had a nose-to-tail fight with the SEAT of Darren Turner in the early stages of the race. Despite running wide coming into Deene due to the slippery surface when the rain started to fall, Neal kept a cool head and fought his way back to take third place. Tom Onslow-Cole started from sixth on the grid and diced closely throughout the 16-lap race with team-mates Neal and Fabrizio Giovanardi. The 20-year-old, who set the fastest lap of the race on lap two in the Vectra VXR, brought home a solid seventh place in the end. The reigning BTCC Champion Giovanardi meanwhile was also fighting for positions with Mat Jackson’s BMW and also finished in the points, coming home in fifth. Race two Starting from fifth on the grid, the Italian had a flying start which saw him right behind the SEAT of Darren Turner in second place. Following a brief safety car period, Giovanardi was fighting for the lead with Turner. Giovanardi managed to charge past the SEAT driver following an off from his rival, however, in making the pass the Italian suffered slight damage to his right rear wheel. Giovanardi was unable to hold on to his lead and had to settle for a solid second position in the end. Race three The race got underway with a delayed start following heavy rain showers that continued throughout the race. Neal made impressive progress lap-by-lap, overtaking his rivals to claim the lead from Colin Turkington (BMW) at the end of lap 16 of the 18 lap race. The reigning BTCC Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi started his race from seventh on the grid and was able to make up two places during the chaotic race, which saw the safety car being deployed once for three laps. Tom Onslow-Cole’s good run from the earlier two races was brought to a sudden halt when the 20-year-old was caught in the mid-field jostle, forcing him to retire from the race. Matt Neal #4 “I’m absolutely overwhelmed, I’m really happy to win my first race for VX Racing. It was a great weekend for us and I also got another podium position with my third place in race one. Fabrizio Giovanardi #1 “I got a podium place which I’m happy about but at Donington Park we will be pushing for victory again.” Tom Onslow-Cole #10 “I felt during race one both Fabrizio and Matt benefited from being more experienced in the wet. Despite my slow start for the second race, I was still able to fight back through the field to make up some places. “Overall I’m happy with my weekend, but I would have liked to finish the day with another points finish.” BTCC Round Four Race Result BTCC Round Five Race Result BTCC Provisional Round Six Race Result 2008 BTCC Drivers’ Championship
30/03/08 VX Racing Dominates At BTCC Season Opener VX Racing got off to a fantastic start to the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season at Brands Hatch, Kent, today, when the reigning BTCC Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Champion took home two race wins, paving its way to defend its titles. Race one Fabrizio Giovanardi started race one from second spot on the grid and following a slow start he fought his way back to close in on race leader Mat Jackson in the BWM 320si. With changeable weather conditions, the reigning BTCC Champion closed the gap to Jackson and took advantage following a mistake by the BMW driver going into Druids. The Italian kept a clear head, taking the chequered flag in his Vectra VXR to take victory. Team-mates Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole had an action-packed race, fighting for positions as the rain fell throughout with VX Racing’s title rivals. Neal finished the race in fifth place, with Onslow-Cole coming home in seventh position. Race two Despite running with 45kg success ballast following his win in race one, Giovanardi went off to a great start to dominate race number two from start to finish. Meanwhile, VX Racing’s Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole had a close-fought battle, until rising star Onslow-Cole ‘squeezed’ through going into Druids on lap 17 to take sixth position. Race three Fabrizio Giovanardi #1 “What a great way to start the season with a win. I had a very good battle with Mat Jackson in the BMW, he had a better start than me but I managed to catch up with him. “When I was close to him he made a mistake coming into Clearways and I passed him on the inside. I really look forward to the second race now.” Matt Neal #4 “I actually wanted it to rain a bit more and maybe with five more laps to go we could have climbed a few more places. I’m very happy with fifth, it gives us a great platform for the second race.” Tom Onslow-Cole #10 “It’s good to take points in my debut for VX Racing but I had a lot of problems with back markers throughout the race. I usually enjoy driving in these conditions, but today couldn’t really make most of them. Despite the car feeling good it dropped away slightly towards the end of the race, but it was fairly consistent throughout.” BTCC Round One Race Result 1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra VXR) BTCC Round Two Race Result 1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra VXR) 10/03/08 Mitsubishi Set to Enter European Rally Motorsport
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have announced today that Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart will be entering the Central Europe Rally. The Mitsubishi team who have proven to be dominant on the Dakar series over the last few years, have been given the opportunity to conquer Central Europe as well as currently holding the prestigious Dakar title (2007). The Central Europe Rally is due to start in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday April 20, and its program includes seven competitive sections in Hungary and Romania before the finish beside Lake Balaton on Saturday April 26. The Central European Rally is under half the distance covered of the Dakar Rally, with only 1,570km of against the clock action. 07/02/08 Toyota Backs New Spring Series What's the hottest prospect on a race track: a road-spec' 21st century MR2 Roadster or a fully-tuned and kitted 1990s-vintage Supra? The speed and handling potential of contemporary and classic Toyota models will be put to the test when they go head to head in a new motor sport challenge, the Toyota Sprint Series 2008. Toyota (GB) PLC has signed up as leading sponsor of the series, designed to give Toyota enthusiasts an exciting and affordable first step into motor sport. A provisional calendar of five events will get under way in March, open to experienced, intermediate and novice drivers. Honours will be fought for in up to 10 classes, covering the complete spectrum of performance, from diesels and sub-1600cc cars to fully modified and tuned machines. Throughout the season driver points will be awarded in each class, so any driver has the potential to become overall champion. The basic principle of a sprint is for each competitor to complete a timed run, rather than to qualify and race side by side as in other forms of circuit motor sport. The series is the brainchild of Barry Cross and Adrian Smith, who share a passion for Toyota cars and motor sport. They have joined forces with Javelin Trackdays to design and launch the competition, encouraged by the success of a one-off event in October. They are hopeful tuning and aftermarket companies will be keen to support the championship to show what they can offer Toyota owners, and that the open nature of the series will encourage a healthy entry list. "It's our aim to create a great championship that will help further the tuning scene in the UK," they said. "We have brought together a professional team that will provide enthusiasts with an exciting, enjoyable, friendly and affordable sporting experience." Toyota Sprint Series
2008 - provisional calendar 31/01/08 New Twingo RenaultSport Exclusively Unveiled as Renault Takes the Wraps off its New R28 Formula One Car The reveal of ING Renault F1 Team’s all-new R28 Formula One race car and driver line-up guarantees excitement, but today’s launch was enhanced further with the exclusive world premiere of the new Twingo Renaultsport. Renault's new, affordable; high-performance car slots into the Renaultsport range alongside its bigger sister cars, Clio and Mégane Renaultsport, and will be on sale in the UK in the autumn. Twingo Renaultsport is a genuine hot hatch with looks to match and was designed to deliver both enjoyable road-holding and sports performance. Its efficient, balanced chassis has been combined with a punchy but flexible 133hp engine to form a package that is sure to appeal to all those who seek sporting sensations and driving pleasure during everyday motoring. Unmistakable sporting credentials Driving pleasure and sporting sensations during everyday motoring The rest of the world’s media and the public will get the chance to see the New Twingo Renaultsport close-up and in its full glory at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. 31/01/08 Nissan Announces New 2008 Season Motorsport Programmes - New GT-R to challenge for SUPER GT Series in Japan - Nissan Motor Co. Ltd and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd (NISMO) today announced their 2008 Global Motorsport Programmes. 1. SUPER GT The 2008 NISSAN GT-R has been developed with the following areas of focus:
Teams
2. Privateer support:
A total of 11 races run through regional championships (EAST Japan Series, WEST Japan Series, and NISSAN MARCH Champion Cup) using the March compact car. By standardising on-board data-loggers, entrants can steadily learn how to improve driving skills, as well as the physical excitement of a racing car. In addition, Nissan will conduct racing schools at each circuit before races using a March Cup car to give circuit guidance and technical support. Since 2008, Nissan motorsport has added new classes and technology into the cars to help make this entry-level support even more accessible.
SUPER GT GT300 class
China
21/11/07 Eibach Extends Technical Partnership with Double BTCC Champions Suspension specialist Eibach UK has extended its technical partnership with Vauxhall's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship works team VX Racing after its overwhelming 2007 success. Eibach supplied the team with performance springs helping clinch the Driver and Manufacturer Championships with their immediate response, reduced body roll, increased stability and enhanced cornering ability. The extended deal was brokered by Triple Eight Race Engineering (888), the Greatworth-based organisation responsible for Vauxhall's motorsport operations, which was delighted with Eibach's contribution to the race-winning Vauxhall Vectra. "Eibach is the perfect partner for VX Racing," said 888's Commercial and Marketing Director Franck Marie. "Without doubt, Eibach has been an integral part of our success in 2007. "They produce the components we need quickly and to a faultless quality and our engineers have a very close relationship that allows us to produce one-off parts and 'specials', even under the pressure of the BTCC calendar." After clinching the 2007 Drivers Championship by three points in the season's thrilling final race, Fabrizio Giovanardi and team mates Tom Chilton and Alain Menu also secured the Manufacturers BTCC title for the Luton marque. Next season crowd favourite and double BTCC champion Matt Neal will be joining as Giovanardi's team-mate so VX Racing looks strong to repeat its success with Eibach's continued support. Under the terms of the new agreement, VX Racing's 2008 cars will be prepared using bespoke products specified by 888's engineers and crafted by Eibach's Motorsport team in Finnentrop, Germany in a two-way exchange of information and technical expertise. 31/10/07 No Rest For 2007 BTCC Champions Only two weeks after winning the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Fabrizio Giovanardi is back behind the wheel of the number 1 VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra. It is the first time Giovanardi has carried the winner's mark since joining the BTCC in 2006 and he says it was a very satisfying moment. "I was obviously happy to see the number one!" said the eight-time touring car champion. "But the team and I are already fully focused on next year. Only if we put 100% into the winter testing now will we be number one again next year, and this is our aim!" On Friday the Italian was testing at Silverstone, which is set to be reintroduced into the BTCC calendar in 2008, and then everyday this week the team has been out at Pembrey, Wales. Giovanardi said it is not unusual to start the testing schedule in October. "We have finished the championship very late," said the eight-time touring car champion. "It's better to run in England before we have winter. "Last year we went to Spain during the winter; the weather is good but the circuit is completely different so the feedback is different. We decided to make a few tries in England before Spain this year to modify the car." In this test the team looked for ways to make the Vauxhall Vectra's settings more adaptable after erring on the side of caution during the season, careful not to endanger VX Racing's championship ambitions by taking risks. "I said during
the year that the car could still be developed to be even better,"
said Giovanardi. "But we had no time in the championship to explore.
We were in the fight from beginning to end. 19/10/07 Premier Run In The Vauxhall Vectra For Matt Neal After winning the
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Driver and Manufacturer titles
just last weekend, Vauxhall's works team is already pushing forward with
its 2008 plans. Matt Neal #4 Ian Harrison, Team
Principal 09/10/07 Giovanardi Is a Winner with Vauxhall Come What May VX Racing has today announced that Fabrizio Giovanardi will remain with the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Vauxhall works team in 2008, whatever the outcome of this weekend's title decider at Thruxton. The Luton-based manufacturer has reinforced its confidence in the seven-time touring car champion by extending his contract in the run-up to the three most important races of his career to date. Giovanardi, who has won eight BTCC rounds in the VX Racing Vectra so far this year, is nine points behind Seat's Jason Plato with a maximum 52 points remaining through next Sunday's racing. "I haven't any
pressure on me because I have signed," said Giovanardi. "But
that does not give me any different approach to the race. I come to Thruxton
to try and win for me, for Vauxhall and for the team. Vauxhall has been
delighted with Giovanardi's tour de force this year, as he dealt with
robust on-track battles and mounting pressure. "The Thruxton weekend is going to be nerve-racking. There's really nothing in it, but I'm confident the team is on form and I'm looking forward to returning to winning ways." At the Thruxton round
earlier in the year Giovanardi won two of the three races, out-scoring
Plato by nine points. If that should happen again, the Vauxhall driver
would win having racked up more victories throughout the season. 18/09/07 Priaulx Looking for Brands Boost On Sunday (September 23), BMW Team UK driver and double World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx will be looking for home victory at the British round of the FIA WTCC 2007 championship at Brands Hatch. Priaulx will arrive at Brands Hatch in the thick of a super-competitive championship battle, trailing team-mate, Augusto Farfus (BMW Germany) by just one point in his bid to secure a hat-trick of consecutive world crowns. With just three rounds of the championship remaining, the title looks set to be decided once again on the streets of Macau at the season climax on November 18. In front of a hugely partisan crowd, Priaulx will be determined to give the fans something to cheer about. Speaking at a media event in London yesterday, he commented: "I'm really looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd - the atmosphere at Brands is going to be amazing. We're set for a close fought weekend but hopefully I can secure some decent points to keep me in contention for the last two rounds." "By winning two world titles I feel I have proved it's not luck, but the competition is getting ever fiercer and you have to raise the bar each year. With the championship this tight, nobody can afford to have a bad day. " Priaulx will be determined to avoid the disappointment of last year, when he went off at Paddock Hill Bend in torrential conditions, whilst leading the second race. Ironically, the corner remains one of his favourite racing challenges: "Paddock Hill Bend is one of those corners you never drive anywhere else in the world. It's unconventional - and at the end of the turn you expect to fall from the end of the world. You have got the feeling that you will go off every time you go through it. I love this corner." Guernseyman Priaulx,
33 (Team BMW UK), will be driving his works BMW 320si WTCC car run by
Bart Mampaey's Team RBM. Others piloting the same car include: Jorg Muller
(Ger) and Augusto Farfus (Bra) of BMW Team Germany, Alessandro Zanardi
(Ita) and Felix Porteiro (Esp) of BMW Team Italy - Spain.
03/09/07 VX Racing On Tail Of Championship Rival The penultimate race weekend of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) began with a nail-bighting qualifying session this afternoon at the Scottish circuit of Knockhill. Almost perfect conditions saw many drivers achieve personal best lap times during the session. Fabrizio Giovanardi driving his Vauxhall Vectra battled throughout the session with title rival Plato. By the end of qualifying Giovanardi had secured fifth place with a time of 53.600s, behind the SEAT driver who will start round 25 of the championship in fourth. Pole position in the end was won by Darren Turner with a time of 53.007s. Tom Chilton achieved
a personal best time around this challenging track of 53.730s in his Vectra.
However, after just eight minutes the session was red-flagged when the
talented 22-year old was involved in an incident with BTCC rookie Alan
Taylor. Unable to re-start, Chilton's strong early qualifying lap ensured
the Vauxhall driver seventh position on the grid when qualifying ended.
Fabrizio Giovanardi
#5 Tom Chilton #7
02/09/07 Fabrizio Giovanardi takes the fight VX Racing's Fabrizio Giovanardi takes the fight for 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Driver's Championship (BTCC) to the final race weekend of the season following a strong performance at the Scottish circuit of Knockhill today. An exceptional drive from the Italian in race one saw him overtake title-rival Plato for fourth position but his efforts were thwarted when BMW's Tom Onslow-Cole tried an over-ambitious manoeuvre coming into Carlube, sending the Vauxhall Vectra into a spin. Masterful Giovanardi
kept his Vauxhall Vectra on track but his championship rival, Plato, passed
him. Plato's team-mate Darren Turner took the chequered flag to score
his first of two wins today. VX Racing's Tom Chilton retired due to damage
caused by an incident with Mike Jordan's Honda Integra. A determined Giovanardi made two places off the start in race two and began to set his sights on SEAT's Plato in third position. Giovanardi pulled out all the stops in his Vauxhall Vectra to pass the SEAT driver into the first corner on lap 11. Plato finished in fifth place behind Gordon Shedden who kept the pressure on Giovanardi for third place until the last lap. Tom Chilton, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a championship point, finishing in 11th place. Race one winner Turner bought his SEAT home in first place once again. The final race of the day saw the VX Racing team aiming for another podium. Starting in sixth position on the grid Giovanardi expertly took fifth place from Adam Jones' SEAT Toledo going into lap six. Giovanardi then challenged Jordan's Honda Integra for fourth place and, despite carrying substantial "success ballast", finished fifth. A troubled weekend for team-mate Tom Chilton ended with a retirement in race three following accident damage to his Vauxhall Vectra just three laps from the end of the race. Knockhill local Gordon Shedden achieved an emotional win, with fellow Honda Civic driver Matt Neal taking the second step on the podium. Giovanardi's title rival Plato could not catch Neal for second and finished in third position. The all three of the BTCC titles will now be decided when the championship returns to Thruxton on the 14th October for the final three rounds of the season. With 51 points in the drivers championship left to fight for Giovanardi is confident that he will be able to overcome Plato's nine point lead. Though SEAT was strong at Knockhill, VX Racing's Vauxhall Vectra is well-suited to Thruxton and it is expected that the team will be able to fight-back during the next weekend.
VX Racing On Tail Of Championship Rival
Almost perfect conditions saw many drivers achieve personal best lap times during the session. Fabrizio Giovanardi driving his Vauxhall Vectra battled throughout the session with title rival Plato. By the end of qualifying Giovanardi had secured fifth place with a time of 53.600s, behind the SEAT driver who will start round 25 of the championship in fourth. Pole position in the end was won by Darren Turner with a time of 53.007s. Tom Chilton achieved
a personal best time around this challenging track of 53.730s in his Vectra.
However, after just eight minutes the session was red-flagged when the
talented 22-year old was involved in an incident with BTCC rookie Alan
Taylor. Unable to re-start, Chilton's strong early qualifying lap ensured
the Vauxhall driver seventh position on the grid when qualifying ended.
Fabrizio Giovanardi
#5 Tom Chilton #7
VX Racing Returns To Glory Ground As the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) heads for the penultimate round at Knockhill this weekend, Vauxhall's Fabrizio Giovanardi is looking to maintain his record of out-scoring title rival Jason Plato 3:1 so far this season. With eight race meetings completed so far, Giovanardi has only lost ground to Plato at the year's Brands Hatch opener and Donington Park, meaning the thrilling title chase is separated by just four points. The two remaining 2007 circuits provide good reason for optimism within the team: in 2006 Knockhill supplied an historic breakthrough with Giovanardi scoring Vauxhall's 100th BTCC win at the Scottish circuit and earlier this year Thruxton, which will host the final round, was the scene of a double victory, proving the Vauxhall Vectra is well equipped to prevail. Since the Knockhill triumph of last year, VX Racing has added a further nine wins to its impressive tally, eight of those this season with Giovanardi taking his third double-victory of the year at the last round. That, and the consistency of the Italian's Vauxhall team-mate, Tom Chilton, has meant the Luton-based car company leads of the BTCC manufacturer's championship and the squad is only seven points behind SEAT Sport UK in the team standings. Qualifying will begin at 15:25 on Saturday, 1 September 2007, with the first of three races starting at 10:35 on Sunday, 2 September 2007. Fabrizio Giovanardi
#5 Tom Chilton #7 Stuart Harris, VXR
Brand Manager
Vauxhall Has BTCC Title In Its Sights Treacherous conditions at Brands Hatch did nothing to dampen the ambitions of Vauxhall's Fabrizio Giovanardi today, as he took two victories and put himself just four points off the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship lead. The VX Racing driver overcame soaking conditions, incident-strewn races and a massive skid to slash Jason Plato's lead by ten points with six races to go. The Vauxhall charge got underway after a massive race one incident involving ten cars. Giovanardi and team-mate Tom Chilton kept their cool during the 40-minute recovery period and made light work of Plato off the restart. After that, Giovanardi simply had to bide his time before first Darren Turner and then Colin Turkington slipped up in the tricky conditions giving him the race lead. Chilton, meanwhile, fell down the order after some robust defence work against Plato and eventually finished sixth. In the day's second race, Chilton was again embroiled with Plato in a bitter on-track encounter that saw the SEAT driver appear to turn in on the 22-year-old as he was being passed around Surtees corner. Giovanardi, however,
had an incident-free race to lead from start to finish for his eighth
win of the season and looked to make it three-in-a-row in the day's third
and final race before drama hit on lap 12. Chilton's bad luck continued as his power steering failed making it a struggle just to finish. He managed to bring the Vauxhall Vectra back in ninth place, however, for some valuable manufacturer and team points. Fabrizio Giovanardi #5 "I have to be really happy because the situation is coming good. I have respect for Jason Plato and he has won a lot in England but I'm not scared to fight with him. I don't care who I will beat, but at the moment he is my main challenger and I will be pleased in the end to beat him." Tom Chilton #7 "In the last race I was chasing Plato down when my power steering went. I was very cross from the earlier race, after he took me off, and I was not going to let him disappear from me. I just wish the power steering hadn't gone because I couldn't out-drive him by the end; I was just hanging on for dear life! "I was absolutely exhausted by the time I saw the chequered flag. It would have been so easy to think 'I can't drive this anymore, I'm coming into the pits,' but you can't. I scored points for the team and at the end of the day, points mean prizes. They all add up at the end of the year."
20/08/07 VX Racing Drivers Set Foundation In Brands Hatch Qualifying VX Racing's Fabrizio Giovanardi qualified in fifth place in today's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship's (BTCC) qualifying at Brands Hatch, with team-mate Tom Chilton equalising his best 2007 qualifying result, finishing fourth. Giovanardi, who will start two places behind main title rival, SEAT's Jason Plato, in tomorrow's first race, was unable to improve his lap-time and with only three minutes remaining the Italian was forced to return to the pits when rain started to make the track slippery. Tom Chilton had to settle for fourth place when a minor technical fault on the Vauxhall Vectra prevented him from posting an improved time during the last ten minutes of the session. The 30-minute session was briefly interrupted following an incident involving Matt Allison and John George in Paddock Hill. The first of tomorrow's (Sunday's) three races at the Kent circuit will start at 10.50. Fabrizio Giovanardi #5 "I'm happy finishing
in fifth considering I'm carrying 36kg success ballast in my Vauxhall
Vectra. Tom Chilton #7 "I had a problem with the power-steering towards the end of the session, which prevented me from improving on my fourth-place lap-time. "The car itself felt really good around the track. We will fix the problem over night and will be good to race tomorrow. I'm confident we will pull out a good result." Mike Nicholson, VX Racing Operations Manager"All in all I'm relatively happy with fourth and fifth places on the grid tomorrow. It was just bad luck for Fabrizio that it started to rain just when he was about to start a final flying lap on a new set of tyres. "We're very confident for tomorrow. The Vectras are normally competitive in race-trim and I'm sure both our drivers can make up some places."
VX Racing Aims To Harness the Tension at Brands Hatch Brands Hatch will be the scene of major drama this weekend, as VX Racing's Fabrizio Giovanardi continues to hunt down his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) rival, Jason Plato. At the last round the Vauxhall Vectra driver cut Plato's Driver Championship lead to just 14 points around the high-speed Norfolk circuit of Snetterton, causing a crescendo of tension as the series enters its closing stages with just three race meetings to go. Brands Hatch has already staged one round of the BTCC this year with the Vauxhall works team securing two podiums. The team is confident, however, that VX Racing's performance at the season opener can be surpassed this weekend. Giovanardi's team-mate, Tom Chilton, is now focusing on securing Vauxhall's seventh BTCC Manufacturer Championship and supporting Giovanardi in his bid to become champion. Chilton, who holds the record as the youngest-ever driver to win a BTCC race, should have plenty of hints and tips to give his Italian team-mate, as Brands Hatch is his home circuit. Qualifying at the Kent track will begin at 15:25 on Saturday, 18 August 2007, with the first of three races starting at 11:20 on Sunday, 19 August 2007. Fabrizio Giovanardi #5 "I've only raced at Brands five times but I've already scored one podium and a win, which shows I really like the track. It's difficult to find the right set-up for the car, though, because of the way the circuit is laid out. You have one fast corner followed by a slow one and every part of the circuit is challenging. "The Vectra is such a great car and I really can't wait to get behind the wheel again after the three-week break. We had such exciting races at Snetterton and my on-track fights with Jason Plato really brought some fire into the championship. I hope we start at Brands Hatch where we finished at Snetterton!" Tom Chilton #7 "It's been incredible how much the car has come on since the last time we raced at Brands Hatch. Nearly everything on the car is different now and we have improved by a big step. "It will be interesting to see whether the lap times will be quicker than in the race at the beginning of the season as all the teams have moved forward and improved the cars." Stuart Harris, VXR Brand Manager "The season is now going into its final stages and it's getting really nerve-racking. The team got such a boost when Fabrizio (Giovanardi) was able to cut the point-gap to Plato right down and there's a real air of optimism in the garage now. "With nine races left this season, anything can happen."
29/07/07
VX Racing's Fabrizio Giovanardi almost halved the points gap to Jason Plato in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Drivers Championship at Snetterton this afternoon, taking his sixth win of the season in the process. The highlight of the day was the long-awaited on-track battle between the two title protagonists, Giovanardi and Plato, which resulted in a titanic battle during the last race of the day. The action began unfolding as the pair ran in third and fourth place behind Mat Jackson. Plato pulled alongside the BMW for third at The Esses and Giovanardi saw his chance up the inside. Fans were on their feet as the pair clashed door handles for the first time this season, spilling onto the grass and letting defending champion, Matt Neal, slip past into second. Giovanardi came out of the breath-taking tussle in front of principle title rival Plato to take another bite out of the SEAT driver's points advantage with nine races left to go. The battle was a great end to a day that saw the Italian take his sixth victory of 2007 in race two and his team-mate, Tom Chilton, take his fifth podium of the year in the day's first race. The 22-year-old Vauxhall works driver featured at the heart of the race lead action from lap one, taking part in a four-way battle over the first half of the 18-lap race.
The team is now preparing for the BTCC's next rounds at Brands Hatch in three weeks time, where VX Racing scored two podium places in the opening rounds of the championship in April. Fabrizio Giovanardi #5 "Now I have shown
Jason who is boss! People were amazed that I kept the car on track with
all the fighting, but it's quite easy really. You have just to have open
vision of the situation. You have to expect the hit from the other driver. Tom Chilton #7 "I got spun by Jason Plato at 130mph in race two and things just didn't get better after that. I can't believe the bad luck I'm having. "From now on, my goal is for Vauxhall to beat SEAT in the Manufacturers Championship. It's getting really tough now for everyone. This is a really hard championship."
29/07/07 Scene Is Set for VX Racing Points Recovery at Snetterton VX Racing's Tom Chilton equaled his season-best Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) qualifying performance this afternoon at Snetterton, out-qualifying team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi for the first time this year. The two drivers finished ahead of main title rivals SEAT in fourth and fifth place, positioning them perfectly to re-take the championship lead in tomorrow's races. In the extremely close 30-minute session, which saw the first ten cars post times within 0.9s, Chilton showed early promise but then left it until the dying seconds to record his quickest lap. In spite of carrying 36kg success ballast Giovanardi, too, had a last minute burst of speed but was unfortunately held up by an independent driver, costing him a possible second-row start. The first of tomorrow's (Sunday's) three races at the Norfolk circuit will start at 09:50.
"I got a good vibe off the car. I've been slowly working away at set-up and today I was gaining a little bit every lap. It's the first time all year that I've found a qualifying set-up where I can press the car over one lap and then it's spent; that's the sign that it's giving its best. "Tomorrow I'm sure I'm the best starter out there. I've been in the middle of the field for most of the season, so it's maybe not really been showing, but I generally have always passed a few cars before the first corner. After that I've just got to keep it clean for the first couple of laps and let the car come to me." Fabrizio Giovanardi #5 "I'm surprised
that I was not faster, especially after I came first in the morning's
practice session. I need big points this weekend after the disaster at
Donington, but Jason Plato will start three places behind me so hopefully
I will have luck in tomorrow's races."
23/07/07 VX Racing Set To Fight Back at Snetterton Only four meetings are left of the 2007 season of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and VX Racing has pulled out all the stops in a bid to get back on top of the Championship's points table. After a successful day's testing on Thursday last week, the current Manufacturer's Championship leader is fully prepared for the BTCC's next rounds at Snetterton on 28 and 29 July 2007, after losing out on crucial points at a wet Donington Park a week ago. With one podium position for VX Racing's Fabrizio Giovanardi and a brilliant drive from Tom Chilton in the third race at Donington Park, where he overtook four cars in the last four laps, the team is confident they are arriving at Snetterton with the right package to attack. Giovanardi, who is currently second in the Driver's Championship behind SEAT's Jason Plato, and team-mate Chilton are eager to improve on last year's performance at the Norfolk circuit, where they scored two podium po |