Rising star joins multiple touring car champions VX Racing

Vauxhall announced at Autosport International the signing of Tom Onslow-Cole, the new rising star on the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) horizon, who will partner the 2007 BTCC Champion, Fabrizio Giovanardi, and Matt Neal in the Vauxhall Vectra.

Onslow-Cole completes VX Racing’s strong driver line-up for the 2008 BTCC season, bringing the energy of youth into the team alongside his experienced team-mates in the third works Vectra.

“I’m really looking forward to driving for VX Racing in 2008,” said Onslow-Cole, who won the Renault Clio Cup Championship in 2006 before moving up to the BTCC last year. “To be part of a team with such collective experience will be a great opportunity and hopefully I can take a lot on board from my experienced team members. But no doubt it will be a great benefit for me to work with them. I think I will call Fabrizio and Matt uncle as they are twice my age!”

Onslow-Cole’s successful debut season, in which the 20-year-old won one race, did not go unnoticed by VX Racing’s team members. “We’re really happy to have Tom on board for 2008 as he is a young driver with great potential. We had a third car from Thruxton and Tom was the obvious choice to fill it with. Unlike last year, where we introduced the third car in the last round we now have it right from the start and it will give us more options in the 2008 season, which I think will be the toughest we have seen in years,” said Stuart Harris, VXR’s Brand Manager.

The decision for Onslow-Cole to move to the 2007 BTCC Manufacturers’ Champion was easy after driving the rear-wheel drive BMW for one season.

“I really wanted to go back and drive a front-wheel drive car and the Vauxhall Vectra is definitely the best in the field,” said Onslow-Cole, who will get his first taste of the car later this month. “VX Racing’s track record is second to none and I look forward to my first test and getting to know the team a bit better.

“I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the Vectra. After the first test we will have a good idea of where we are, but I am quietly confident of being up there for the title fight this season.”