Whittled down from more than 10,000 entrants, the 2007 Vauxhall VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition winner John Allison will live out his school boy dream when he takes his place on the grid for the first time this weekend in his racing Vauxhall Astra VXR.

The 34-year-old mortgage consultant from Beverley, East Yorkshire, who entered the competition exactly twelve months ago, will complete his transformation into a fully-sponsored racing driver when he represents Vauxhall VXR in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup 2009 at Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk this Sunday.

John, who unusually has never tested the car in dry conditions, is hoping his experience of more than 400 miles of wet testing will put him at an advantage.

Given that Britain is normally rainy and wet in April, and the forecast has predicted rain, I feel I am at some advantage going into the weekend, with all the wet weather testing I completed pre-season, said John.

“Obviously, I am extremely excited and also nervous, it still doesn’t seem quite real! A year ago I was sitting at my desk filling in the online VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition entry form and now I am a racing driver about to compete in my first ever race! It’s what dreams are made of!”

With John filling the boots of the 2007 winner, Vauxhall’s search for the VXR Racing Driver of the Year 2008 is open. The competition will see one talented individual win a race seat in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup 2009. The competition is open to all drivers over the age of 21 who have never held a race licence.

To enter, simply visit vxrdriver.co.uk to fill in the online questionnaire by 27 June 2008. From this, 1,620 successful applicants will be put through their paces in the karting semi-finals, before 15 finalists are selected for the intensive three-day final.