Racing drivers have some very particular attributes, one of which is obviously the ability to drive at considerable speed without crashing – as well as avoiding being overtaken by people with similar levels of skill. Here in the UK, there are a lot of people who think that they can drive – an even greater number of which who reckon they can drive well.
For those people out there, Vauxhall has the perfect competition set up – the VXR Racing Driver of the Year 2008. The competition kicked off last year and rose to an incredible level of success (including some TV coverage). This year, Vauxhall are once again on the hunt for Britain’s best undiscovered driving talent (if you have a racing license don’t bother applying – but if you love doing handbrakers in your local Sainsbury’s car park after closing then please do).
What do you get if you win? You’ll get to spend a season in a race-tuned Vauxhall Astra VXR – once of the most powerful hot hatchbacks in production with a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds! Last year’s winner goes by the name of John Alison, a mortgage consultant from Beverley. Not only did he win the VXR Racing Driver of the Year but he’s now competing for Vauxhall in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup.
This year, a full season’s racing in the 2009 Cup is up for grabs, along with professional guidance and tuition from the BTCC team of Fabrizio Giovanardi, Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole. Sound good huh? Frankly, for a lot of us out there, I’m sure it sounds like a dream come true (hey, it’s not like Ferrari does a competition like this anyway right?).
So, what do you have to do to actually take part? The first section requires that you complete the online test – at the moment you have about 33 days left to do this before the option closes. It involves first of all filling in a number of questions that prove that you’re ‘VXR enough’ – or simply are actually interested in racing.
The second part of the test is a little bit more interesting. First up, you’ve got a memory/reaction game – you need to select the car is it appears. After this, you have to control a car by threading it around a race track using your mouse. If you’re using a trackpad, don’t even bother attempting this. It can prove frustrating at best!
If you get past the tests, you’ll then go to semi-qualifying. Here, you’ll be invited to one of five go-karting sessions across the UK. Naturally, where you place and the lap times you set will be all-important, so do try to give your all if you make it to this stage. If you make it through to the final twelve (so yes, you have to be reasonably good), you’ll be tested on track skills, knowledge and even be placed in front of the country’s media. Scary no doubt, but worth it to be a racing driver.
So, who can enter? Well, I have as I haven’t got my racing license yet. Apart from me though, anyone who doesn’t hold a racing license but does hold a driving license and is over the age of 21 may enter. You have to be ‘in it to win it’ as they say, but given I’ll be trying my hardest to upset your chances here at my top racing tips:
1. Concentrate on your own lines, not that of the competition. How fast you enter and exit the corners will dictate whether you can get to that first position not whether you can angrily hang on someone’s tail.
2. The fastest lines you can take are straight ones. When you see someone screeching around a track on TV, they may not be maximising their lines. When you’re turning, you need traction for that – which takes away available traction for braking or accelerating.
3. Fast drivers are smooth drivers. Being hard on the car might feel like fun, but it sure can slow you down. Try to direct it/glide it into corners rather than wrestling it.
There you have it, some tips on how to set some damn good lap times whichever track you’re on. Naturally there are a huge number of other tips I could give you, but I really, really want to win this and tell you all how great it is to be a racing driver…
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
im 15 but i am a awsome driver. i would like to find the path to becoming a racing drvier and i have all the talents i need so win.
so if any one can show me the path please write to me at noshy07@hotmail.com
thanks
Hi nasa,
I’d like to know how you are so sure you’re an ‘awesome driver’.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a career that you can just fall into, so my recommendation is to get involved in the karting scene and see if you really do have the skills. If so, then you should start setting new track records, winning races etc.
I have 10.5st . Iam to heavy?
Hi Marian,
Your weight of 10.5 stone should prove no problem in all but the most diminutive of vehicles! If you have any skill, I’d say go for it. You’re probably around the weight (if not less) than many F1 drivers.
I’ve actually just checked this and apparently Marian you weigh exactly the same as Lewis Hamilton – eg 10.5 stone is 150lbs…
Hi,my name is sarel and I would like to know how do I entre for the VXR racing competion?I loved cars my whole life and it is all i want to do is racing.Can you help to direct me and where I should go.I do not have the funds to start on my own and need help with it aswell.All I would like is to go to a try out or something like that and see if racing is for me or not.
Hi Sarel,
Unfortunately there’s not been an official announcement on the VXR Racing Driver of the Year 2009 competition. I have a feeling that it might not be held this year. I will however check with Vauxhall and let you know.
I would suggest, if you’re keen to get a start in motorsport, you look up any clubs in your local area. Many do team events, so that would be one way you could then get involved. Alternatively, the karting scene is very active and a great way to test your skills in safety.
i was thinking of applying, but however, i currently dont have a driving licence(revoked on medical grounds for 6months) i am full of anger, really miss driving and would love the opportunity to race. i was a proffesional driver for 11 years prior to my ban and would love to prove myself a very good driver
hi guys
i would like to know when are you coming to south africa, because i can’t wait to see you and i wish one day i can fly to your country because i think i belong there in the world of cars and high speed driving on streets is ma favourite race.
Hi Pumlarny,
I wouldn’t come here for “high speed driving on streets” – there isn’t much of that going on! However, we do have Silverstone, Brands Hatch etc. We also have Touring Cars, which are very spectacular when seen live!
this makes for hilarious reading.
i was one of the finalists in the year that alison won. i was the fastest driver, set the fastest times in 2 of the 3 disciplines, dominated the go karting race, and the head of the vxr race team even asked me how i’d managed to become so good at heel and toeing.
despite all that, they chose someone who was safe. basically. alison wasn’t slow, wasn’t fast, he was steady and average. this proved in his season in the Cup as he didn’t win a single race, despite having the best car and team around him.
im pretty sure vxr aren’t running the comp. more than anything it was a promotional thing rather than genuinly helping someone start a career in racing. Also after the season was over you’d be on your own i.e. back to reality. So unless you had the 50 odd k needed to race a fully works prepped vxr astra, your career would be over.
i used to be a dreamer, but then realised motorsport is primarily a business, funded by rich people, sold to rich people. i was at a kart meeting and the chain fell off my kart. I needed a new screw for the sprocket – i went to the parts van. The guy wanted £4 for 2 small screws. I said ‘are you joking’. he said ‘well you’re in the wrong sport mate’. Thats the sort of mentality you’re up against if you want a ‘career’.
Most people don’t even know you need at least 100k to do a season of formula renault, or 50k for formula ford.
my point? i don’t have one really, apart from the fact that the fans feed this money driven sport by appreciating it and calling the drivers ‘skilled’ when in reality a lot of people could do what they do, given the funding. its time for fans to demand easier access and cheaper costs for competitive go-karting at least. Of course it’ll never happen as you’re all deluded.
Moschum was making a very valid point, motorsport is never going to be affordable to everyman.
Most people set their sights too high, you can’t expect to just take up racing and jump straight into Formula Renault or BTCC. Just as much fun and competition can be had in series such as the Mighty Minis or similar entry level series.
If you really want to race and are prepared to dedicate a lot of time and effort to do so then you can get set up in the Mighty Minis for under £7000 for the first year, including the cost of the car!!
People need to be realistic, most televised race series only really cater for the guys who have been nurtured to the top by big teams,or those who have a massive personal wealth which allows them to buy their seats.
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