The VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition will make its television debut in a thrilling new ITV programme later this week.
The first episode of the two-part series premieres on ITV4 on Sunday, 30 March at 5.30pm, immediately after the opening rounds of the 2008 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Brands Hatch and focuses on the semi-finals of the contest. The show will be repeated on ITV4 at 5pm the following Sunday.
The second episode will be broadcast on 13 April at 5.30pm and covers the intensive three-day boot camp final, with a repeat the following Sunday at 5pm.
Both one-hour shows follow the competitors as they battle to impress the judges and be crowned 2007 VXR Racing Driver of the Year. The eventual winner beat 10,000 other entrants from all walks of life to win the prize worth £80,000 and become a Vauxhall racing driver. The winner will represent VXR in the 2008 Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Car Cup.
Vauxhall's Richard Hughes said: "Both programmes look fantastic, showing the amazing journey that all our contestants went on in 2007 and promises to be must-see viewing for both motorsport and non-motorsport fans alike. The contest was a huge success with an extremely worthy winner who now has an amazing opportunity to change his life forever."
For more information on the 2008 VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition, visit wvxrdriver.co.uk. The competition is open to all drivers over the age of 21 who have never held an MSA racing license.
The VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition attracted more than 10,000 entrants in 2007. 2,000 of these went on to compete in regional karting semi-finals for one of the coveted 12 places in the Grand Final.
The finalists headed into a special three-day boot camp, which included tasks at a Territorial Army centre, media training and press conferences, plus driving elements at Bedford Autodrome.
The 2007 winner, 34-year-old mortgage consultant John Allison from Beverley, East Yorkshire will represent VXR in the 2008 Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Car Cup. John will drive a Vauxhall Astra VXR prepared by the VXRacing team, Triple Eight.
The competition was filmed by ITV, who produced two one-hour programmes focusing on the final stages of the competition.
The shows will be broadcast on ITV4 on the following dates:
Episode 1: Sunday 30 March, 17.30 - 18.30 (after live BTCC)Episode 1 (repeat): Sunday 5 April, 17.00 - 18.00Episode 2: Sunday 13 April, 17.30 - 18.30 (after live BTCC)Episode 2 (repeat): Sunday 19 April, 17.00 - 18.00Vauxhall is the most successful manufacturer in the modern era of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), with 111 race wins. Since first entering the BTCC in 1989, Vauxhall's works team has won 18 titles:
Drivers ChampionshipsFabrizio Giovanardi (2007)James Thompson (2004)Yvan Muller (2003)James Thompson (2002)Jason Plato (2001)John Cleland (1995)John Cleland (1989)Manufacturers ChampionshipVauxhall Vectra (2007)VXR Astra Sport Hatch (2005)Astra Coupe (2004)Astra Coupe (2003)Astra Coupe (2002)Astra Coupe (2001)Cavalier GSi (1992)Team Championships (2004, 2003, 2002, 2001)
