April 23, 2008

It’s the time of year to get your application to enter Vauxhall’s VXR racing driver of the year competition.  Fuelled by the success of last years contest Vauxhall are running a competition to drive a race prepared Astra for VXR in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup 2009.

All you need to enter is to be over 21 and hold a UK driving licence (and have never held an MSA racing licence),  the closing date is 27th June.  Last year the competition attracted more than 10,000 entrants.  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 were treated to a 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 Cup. John’s first race is this coming weekend on Sunday 27 April at Snetterton.

“When I entered the competition I didn’t actually think I might win” said the mortgage consultant. I never gave it a second thought how it may change my life, but believe me it has!

“Obviously you can never prepare for the climate of the economy, but I can prepare myself for races and if that means putting in the extra hours hitting the gym or mountain biking then so be it, I believe it will pay off in the long run.”  

John also gives advice to hopefuls thinking of entering the 2009 Vauxhall VXR Driver of the year competition which is now open to applicants.

“Winning the VXR Driver of the Year competition has been hard work but also a dream come true. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives and I would recommend entering the competition to anyone.

For Stuart Connolly, one of 12 hopeful finalists from last years competition, the result of the competition was not the glory of the chequered flag but a new career, with Vauxhall.  Ian Harrison, the VX Racing Team principal was impressed with Stuart’s attitude and offered him a job as part of the VXR team.  “I was obviously very disappointed that I didn’t win the VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition but I was over the moon when Ian offered me the job,” remembers Stuart. “It’s really exciting and it feels great to be part of the team.

“Since I entered the competition, only positives have come my way. I didn’t become a racing driver, but I still got a new job! Vauxhall’s competition is such a great opportunity and I think everyone should give it a go, after all it doesn’t cost anything and what have you got to lose? You never know what may come out of it.”

To enter the 2008 competition, simply visit www.vxrdriver.co.uk to fill in the online questionnaire. From this,1,620 successful applicants will be put through their paces in the karting semi-finals, before 15 finalists are selected for the intensive three-day final.

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