The search begins...
Millions dream of it, thousands pursue it, few will make it … you could be among the elite who race as a professional driver thanks to Vauxhall’s new initiative, launched today, to find Britain’s brightest new talent.
Up for grabs is a full season racing in one of the most competitive British championships, the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup. The prize, worth £80,000, will see the winner get Vauxhall’s full backing for a year; a considerable asset considering the manufacturer won 13 of the 18 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) titles available since 2001.
The purpose of the VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition is to give all those would-be drivers, put off by high costs and exclusivity, a fighting chance to prove they deserve a place next to the best!
Once discovered, Vauxhall will provide guidance, training and support to help this driving talent compete, and hopefully win, the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup, positioned to be a major feeder series to the UK’s biggest car-racing package, the BTCC.
The winner will benefit from the expertise of seven-times touring car champion, Fabrizio Giovanardi, who is currently second in the BTCC for Vauxhall’s works team, VX Racing, as well as Tom Chilton, the youngest-ever driver to win a BTCC race.
“Starting a career in motorsport is a real gamble,” said Chilton, 22, from Reigate. “Everyone has to believe they’re the best and they’ll make it to the top, but the odds are stacked against you. This competition will give thousands of people the chance to showcase their ability without having to worry about finding sponsors or where the rent money’s coming from. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!”
VXR Brand Manager, Stuart Harris, says the competition is Vauxhall’s way of making motorsport more inclusive. “It’s not like football is it?!” he said. “You can’t just grab a ball and head off for the nearest patch of grass! Motorsport requires serious investment and that has made it very exclusive. We want to make sure the sport doesn’t suffer because of its barriers and although this is only a small gesture in the scheme of things, we believe it can be an extremely significant one if we find the right winner.”
Entering is simple: a registration form is now live at http://www.vxrdriver.co.uk/. This has been designed to give assessors an insight into each contestant’s motorsport knowledge and character. From this, 2,000 drivers will be put through karting trials across the country and whittled down to 12 finalists, who will be assessed not only on their agility and endurance in the car but also on their media skills and PR abilities.
The competition is open to anyone over the age of 21 who does not already possess a racing license (terms and conditions apply).
