Yesterday, at the home of the British Touring Car Champions, VX Racing in Banbury, the 12-finalists of the VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition got a look behind the scene’s of what it takes to build a championship winning car!

After a warm welcome by the 2007 British Touring Car Champion and VX Racing driver Fabrizio Giovanardi, the finalists enjoyed a tour around the high-tech facilities.

The tour included visits to the drawing office, the engine and gearbox workshop as well as a viewing of the actual body shell of the Vauxhall Astra VXR, which the eventual winner of the competition will race in next year’s Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Car Championship, a prize worth £80,000.

The factory tour was another stepping stone on the long road to the finalist boot camp, which will take place in January 2008.

“It has been absolutely amazing,” said Ryan Struthers, one of the finalists. “I was very surprised how much is done within the factory and how much hard work it takes to put together a race-winning car.”

Newly-crowned BTCC champion, Fabrizio Giovanardi, has been supporting the VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition throughout and did his role of ambassador justice by spending the day with time finalists.

“It was the first time we all saw the final 12 in one room and it was very interesting, there are some very competitive individuals in the mix and I am looking forward to see who will win this great prize in January,” said the Italian.

“Today reminded me of a scene from Top Gun; to see the best of the best from the 8,000 initial entrants all together in one room was amazing and a superb result for the guys itself to get this far,” said Richard Hughes, Vauxhall’s Group Marketing Manager.

“It was a great experience for the finalists as they got a good inside view of how their potential racing car for next year is built.”