LAST FOUR FINALISTS JOIN VAUXHALL’S RACING DRIVER HUNT

Media information: 23 September 2007Vauxhall’s VXR Racing Driver of the Year visited London and the South West this weekend where the last four finalists were confirmed for the competition’s Grand Final. Vauxhall launched its unique search to find Britain’s best natural driving talent earlier this year and entrants throughout the heats have shown fierce wheel-to-wheel battles. The four finalists, who were amongst more than 500 wannabe racing drivers who attended this weekend's Semi-Finals, will now join eight fellow contestants in the battle for a fully-funded race seat worth £80,000.The winner will be Vauxhall’s official entry in the 2008 Dunlop Maxx Sport Production Car Cup, a feeder series to the UK’s largest motor racing package, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with multiple championship-winning outfit Triple Eight Engineering, The Grand Final, which takes place early next year, will see the 12 finalists enduring grueling media and fitness tests as well as getting behind the wheel of the race car. VX Racing’s Tom Chilton, who is the youngest-ever winner of a BTCC race, watched on from the pit lane over the weekend giving tips and tricks to the aspiring racers. “I really admired the guys because they gave it their best,” the 22-year-old said. “People underestimate how difficult it is to control a kart because it takes a lot of strength and energy.“The fights I saw on-track were aggressive but there weren’t any unfair overtaking manoeuvres, which you would expect in such a tight competition.”Fellow finalists are Edinburgh’s Grant Elliot and Ryan Struthers, Lesmahagow’s Barry McGowan, Manchester’s Stuart Connolly, Beverly’s John Allison, Swadlincote’s Muorali Selvarajah, Milton Keynes’ Adrian Trenholme and Nitin Luthra from Bedford.

The four winners were:

James Corte, 30, Winchester, accountant“I’m happy and surprised! I thought I would do well here as I’ve done karting around here before. I really thought that I wouldn’t be quick enough and others would beat me but I was smooth and consistent.

“I’m in the company karting league so I race about once a month. I’m not sure how I will prepare myself for the Grand Final as it will be in cars not karts.

“I play football and go mountain biking regularly and I will keep it up to be very fit and strong for the Grand Final.”

Wesley Goodwin, 25, Tunbridge Wells, traveller “I’m so happy to have won today. I’m looking for a new career and now I’m back in the UK after traveling around Australia for six months so I thought I give this a go, and now I’ve suddenly found myself with a place in the Grand Final.

“I like watching Formula Ford and Renault because it’s really close racing, but racing for Vauxhall in 2008 would be a dream come true. I really can’t wait for the Grand Final to happen!”

Jonathan Lissester, 26, London, architect “I’m so happy I won! It went really well this morning and I think my 13 years experience of karting did pay off.“I had an injury in July so I was a bit nervous whether this would affect my performance today. It was hard work out there because I raced against some really good drivers.“Now I’ve got a place in the Grand Final I would like to think I can go on to win it. I will do everything possible to prepare myself for the big day.”

Chris Jiggins, 29, Essex, assistant parts manager for a car dealer“I’m very confident going into the Grand Final! I’ve done a lot of kart racing and bike track days and this experience has obviously paid off. “I’m determined to win the prize in the Grand Final next year and I’m going to do a strict fitness routine now that I have something to focus on.”VX Racing’s Tom Chilton watched the action closely all weekend