VX Racing looks toward to giving Vauxhall its one hundredth win in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Scottish circuit Knockhill on 27 and 28 August. Vauxhall has currently won 98 BTCC races, and the VX Racing team heads north of the border determined to seal the elusive century win after a difficult race weekend at the last event in Snetterton that saw a considerable points haul, but no wins. Vauxhall remain in the lead of the manufacturers championship, with Muller second in the drivers championship, Turkington fifth and Smith in tenth place. VX Racing currently lies second in the team championship.

Although Knockhill has proved a difficult track for VX Racing in the past, the new-for-2005 VX Racing Astra Sport Hatch has performed well at tracks with long corners and twists, and should suit the Fife track's narrow swoops and bends. At Croft and Mondello, two technical circuits, the car ran exceptionally well, and the team is optimistic that the accomplishments can be transferred over to the challenging Scottish circuit.

Yvan Muller put in a sterling performance at the last round at Snetterton to notch up one third and two fourth places despite struggling with reduced straightline speed, and goes to Knockhill having dropped only three points to current title leader, Neal. The Frenchman commented: "I am hopeful that the VX Racing Astra Sport Hatch will be well-suited to Knockhill. We were down on power at Snetterton, but this is a much twistier track, and I am pleased with the progress we have made with the balance of the car through the turns and it is now a very good car to drive through the corners. Although there are only three events left this year, that is still nine races and lots of points. I'm not giving up until the chequered flag at the last race."

Colin Turkington currently holds fifth position in the drivers' championship, and looks to close the gap back to fourth-placed Jason Plato after some disappointing results at Snetterton. With only sixteen points separating the pair, Turkington could well take fourth with some strong finishes at Knockhill. The Ulsterman eagerly anticipates the race he views as his second 'home' race: "I went to University in Stirling, which is very close to Knockhill, and I lived only a short drive away. I'm really looking forward to it - especially with so many of my friends there."

Having been a close resident of the city, Turkington will also experience Edinburgh from a slightly different perspective as he drives the VX Racing Astra Sport Hatch across the Forth Road Bridge as part of the pre-event promotion. "That will be awesome," Turkington extols, "The bridge is a national landmark, but to drive it in my race car is something else. As well as being a great experience for me, it's a good publicity opportunity for the city."

Third driver Gavin Smith has limited experience at Knockhill circuit, but he eagerly anticipates the event, keen to put the disappointment of Snetterton behind him, where he too was hampered by the lack of straightline speed.  "Knockhill is a great track and I'm looking forward to the event. We're now in the final third of the season and I really want to end it on a high. I know I can do it, and I know the car is capable, so there is every reason to be confident. VX Racing is one of the most successful teams in the championship, and I want to help it stay that way."

Knockhill will host the eighth race weekend of the 2005 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on 27 and 28 August 2005. VX Racing is aiming to extend its lead in the manufacturers' championship and improve its standings in the drivers' and team championships.

Hot Facts Colin Turkington holds the race lap record at Knockhill, setting a time of 54.845 secs in 2004 for MG Sport In recent years, Knockhill has not yielded substantial rewards for VX Racing. In 2004 VX Racing picked up only one podium position, a third for James Thompson in race one, and a second and third for Thompson and Muller in 2003. However in 2001, the team picked up two wins, two seconds and two thirds Colin Turkington has been taking full advantage of the three-week break between Snetterton and Knockhill. Whilst the British public have been avoiding the rainclouds, the Ulsterman has been enjoying the sunshine in Limassol, Cyprus

Yvan Muller celebrated his 35th birthday between Snetterton and Knockhill, on 16 August. He was born in 1969 in Altkirch, Eastern France