a racing driver?
Becoming a racing driver is right up there on any young boy’s childhood dream. Yet the chances of making that dream into a reality are growing ever slimmer. Vauxhall is re-addressing the balance and offers anyone over the age of 21 the opportunity of fulfilling their childhood ambition.
Vauxhall’s VXR Racing Driver of the Year campaign will give one winner the chance to realise their dream. Not only will the competition winner, who will have been selected from 2,000 contestants, get a fully-funded race seat for the 2008 season, but in addition, fully support through all important stages that it takes to become a successful racing driver.
In 2005, the Motor Sports Association (MSA) registered a total of 9,696 licenses for the UK only; this is a considerably high number. Taking into consideration the number of youngsters trying to become a racing driver, however, the number is ten-times higher.
Your chances of ever becoming a racing driver are slim. These days, it is not enough to be talented; if there is no money or sponsor backing, the chances to realise their dream are slight.
Additionally to learning how to set up a race car, the VXR Racing Driver of the Year will get full training in PR and media skills; an essential tool in order to be successful.
VX Racing’s Tom Chilton, the youngest ever winner of a British Touring Car race, has already established himself as one of the great talents in Britain and knows only too well how important it is to have all the right features.
“Being a good racing driver is all about being a package,” says Chilton. “You need to be consistent, know where your limits are so you don’t endanger your colleagues on the track.
“You also have to be very fit, at the moment I’m training hours and hours per day to get to the absolute maximum.
“It is also really important to be good with the media,” adds Chilton. “Sometimes I get out of the car and I’m fuming and the last thing I want to do is talk to a journalist. If you don’t get on with the media and you are not good to talk to, they won’t write about you and this, in turn, also affects your team and the brand.”
Vauxhall, one of the most successful manufacturers in the history of British touring racing, is keen to catapult its new talent to greater highs beyond this competition.
The competition is open online at vxrdriver.co.uk until 25 July 2007.
Anyone over the age of 21 who does not hold a valid racing driver license is entitled to enter.
Stage One: Ten-question online test, deadline 25 July 2007
Stage Two: Semi-finals
08 September: Raceway, Edinburgh (first two semi-finalists found)
09 September: Daytona Racing, Manchester (second two semi-finalists found – 4 total)15 September: Teeside Karting & Autodrome (third two semi-finalists found – 6 total)16 September: Daytona Racing, Milton Keynes (fourth two semi-finalists found – 8 total)22 September: Thruxton Karting Centre (fifth two semi-finalists found – 10 total)23 September: The Raceway, Kings Cross (sixth two semi-finalists found – 12 total)
Stage Three: Final
04 November: First day of finalists camp / detailed selection tests
05 November: Second day of finalists camp / detailed selection tests – Winner announced
