VX Racing gives Northants school kids a taste of the fast lane

This weekend Rockingham plays host to the next outing of the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and VX Racing was today giving the region’s school kids an introduction to the world of touring cars.

A group of 10 and 11-year-olds from Denfield Park Junior School got a guided tour of the pit lane garage by the team’s racing driver, Tom Chilton, thanks to class-mate Jack who won a competition set by the Northamptonshire circuit.

“I made the future car for Rockingham,” said the 11-year-old, who got to have his picture taken with Chilton, the youngest-ever driver to win a BTCC race. “I thought I might as well make a car that doesn’t cause global warming because I like seeing the cars go around and I like drawing them.”

Jack was at the front of the queue as VX Racing’s pit crew raced to change tyres and answered all the school kids’ questions this afternoon.

“Anything involving cars, he loves it,” said Jack’s father, Stav, who lives in Rushden. “We bought a radio controlled car a little while ago and Jack can actually strip down the engine and build it again. He’s been able to do that for two years now!”

Chilton was on hand to give the youngsters an insight into the world of a racing driver and told them about his first trip to a BTCC paddock when he was about their age. “My mate told me he was going to the touring cars and I said, ‘what’s that’?!” remembered Chilton. “I came along and we watched with a picnic on the grass. It was the best day ever. I think it was when Cleland and all the old boys were racing. It was really exciting to watch.”

The kids are already looking forward to the race day action on Sunday. “I saw a crash once on TV,” said 11-year-old Scott. “A wheel fell off and there was a fire. I remember it very well because it was very exciting.”

Qualifying will take place on Saturday afternoon, with the first of three races at 11.20 on Sunday.