Vauxhall presented yesterday in Rockingham, Northamptonshire the 2008 Vauxhall Vectra VXR BTCC race car. The highlight of the day was the new lap record set by the reigning BTCC Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi. He managed to improve his last year record of the track by more than half a second, lapping the circuit in 1m24.581s.
Vauxhall Press Release:
Media and fans alike had their very first glimpse of the brand new Vauxhall Vectra VXR as the defending 2007 champions took part in the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) media day at Rockingham, Northamptonshire.
VX Racing showed their title-credentials with the
reigning BTCC Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi setting the third quickest time of the day. The Italian beat his own lap record from Rockingham last year by more than half a second, lapping the circuit in 1m24.581s.
Double ex-BTCC Champion Matt Neal finished the day in eighth place with a time of 1m25.022s, whilst team-mate Tom Onslow-Cole set a time of 1m25.574s, which saw him in 13th place. The first 14 cars were within one second of each other, showing the competitiveness that we would expect of the BTCC.
The media day began the official celebrations of the BTCC’s 50th anniversary, whilst also marking the debut of the brand new 2008 cars. Vauxhall were involved in the celebrations, taking part in a number of drives with vintage Vauxhalls, alongside the first-ever BTCC Champion, Jack Sears.
The 2008 BTCC season kicks-off at Brands Hatch, Kent, in two weeks time.
