Defending champions VX Racing continue to dominate the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), with seven wins from 15 races this year and an impressive 13 podium finishes.
Reigning BTCC Champion and VX Racing driver Fabrizio Giovanardi currently leads the driver’s classification with 145 points, with fellow VX Racing star Matt Neal snapping at his heels in second place just 23 points behind. The VX Racing team continues to hold tight at the top of the team standings, with a 137 point advantage over their nearest rivals.
The reliability and consistency of the Vectra VXR’s second season this year, sees VX Racing heading into rounds 16, 17 and 18 at Snetterton as the most successful team so far. Both the team and Giovanardi will continue the fight to defend their titles at the Snetterton rounds.
Following the team’s four podium finishes at the last meeting at Croft, including a win from Giovanardi, all three drivers hope to be able to appear together again on the podium, reminiscent of Race 3 at Snetterton 2007.
Qualifying for round 16 of the BTCC will be held on Saturday 12 July at 15:45, with the first of three races starting at 11:00 on Sunday 13 July.
Fabrizio Giovanardi #1“I won one race at last year’s Snetterton round, but the new season brings with it both new challenges and new possibilities. This year’s championship has seen many more strong cars and competitors on the grid, but I think we have the potential to continue our form. Our cars excel on high speed circuits so we are hoping to be a main contender for the weekend.”
Matt Neal #4“Snetterton is a pretty tricky circuit, the cars need to be right on the limit coming into Russell Bend at the end of the lap. It’s a high speed circuit and real challenge on the both the tyres and drivers. The first half of the season has been really tough and I don’t expect it will ease off, no doubt the championship this year will go right down to the wire.”
Tom Onslow-Cole #10“I had a really successful race at Snetterton last year, with my debut win in Race 3 for my old team. I’m hoping to bring home some points for the VX Racing team this time, as I feel confident that the car will run well. Our testing so far has proven that times amongst the field will be very close on race day, but I’m feeling confident about our preparations and am really looking forward to the challenge.”
Vauxhall’s racing heritage will be on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year, from 11-13 July, where the championship winning 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier will be driven in anger up the hill against the clock. Fabrizio Giovanardi’s predecessor, former BTCC champion and original driver of the Cavalier, John Cleland, will be taking his rightful place again behind the wheel for the displays.
