HOT
VXRacing and a brand new Vectra take on 2007 British Touring Car Championship 
2006 was an uncharacteristically tough year for VXRacing. For the first time in five years, the Banbury-based team ended the season without a Championship title. This year, a new Vauxhall will take part, and VXRacing's Team Principal, Ian Harrison, is very positive about the forthcoming season. Words by Fiona Miller, Pictures by Eliot Bicknell
TWO'S COMPANY
While three cars were entered into the BTCC fray under the VXRacing banner for 2006, the focus this year will be on just two -because new regulations now say only two cars from a three-car team are eligible to score points. There's also a new set of technical rules, the FIA S2000 Regulations - introduced to bring the BTCC in line with World Touring Car Championship regulations.
But Ian Harrison isn't totally convinced by the change. 'The new rules are far from black and white. A lot of work, effort and cost have been involved in first understanding the regulations and secondly, building something to them. Having said that, the Vectra has more of a conventional layout than the Astra Sport Hatch and that, in the end, has helped us design and produce what we hope will be a really good race car'.
LET BATTLE COMMENCE
The ten-weekend, thirty-race campaign for the MSA Dunlop British Touring Car Championship kicks off at Brands Hatch on 1 April. VXRacing arch rivals SEAT Sport UK and BMW have a perceived advantage, as they not only competed in the BTCC last year under FIA S2000 rules, but also have sister operations in the WTCC under the same regulations, putting a season's worth of data and racing experience under their belts. Honda, as always will also be hard to beat. The TOCA cars have more horsepower and an overall speed advantage over the S2000 cars they could be hard to beat in circumstances such as a reverse grid.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON VXRACING, GO TO WWW.VAUXHALL.CO.UK