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…
nasa says
October 17, 2008 at 8:37 pmim 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 [email protected]
thanks
Mr Butterscotch says
October 23, 2008 at 12:24 pmHi 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.
Marian says
April 11, 2009 at 12:33 pmI have 10.5st . Iam to heavy?
Mr Butterscotch says
April 13, 2009 at 9:54 pmHi 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.
Mr Butterscotch says
April 13, 2009 at 9:56 pmI’ve actually just checked this and apparently Marian you weigh exactly the same as Lewis Hamilton – eg 10.5 stone is 150lbs…
sarel says
June 6, 2009 at 10:16 pmHi,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.
Mr Butterscotch says
June 7, 2009 at 7:41 pmHi 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.
gary berresford says
January 26, 2010 at 6:42 pmi 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
pumlarny says
March 3, 2010 at 11:52 amhi 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.
Mr Butterscotch says
March 4, 2010 at 7:33 pmHi 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!
moschum says
August 13, 2010 at 10:07 amthis 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.
paul says
August 22, 2010 at 1:12 pmMoschum 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.
marc cargill says
September 13, 2010 at 4:34 pmhow do i get my shot at this.i am 23 and wake up ever day thinking on racing and getting that track time would be just what i need.i no i have something just never got to show it my mind is in one place perfect racing lines perfect driver head and theres no i in team
Mr Butterscotch says
September 16, 2010 at 11:25 pmHi Marc,
Unfortunately the competition is now closed with no hope of reopening. The best thing I can offer is to get involved with your local motorsports club and they can give you further information on how to get involved.
luke says
November 3, 2010 at 11:32 am@mr Butterscotch….i have read some of your comments about the kating scene and i would just like to say that its not as cheap as you think it is…i used to do just the normal ‘clubbies’ meetings on a very tight budget and would be be consistantly fast..i race a 4 year old kart (doesnt sound old but the difference between that and a new 2010 kart is unbelievable) and still finished 3rd in the championship having only done half the amount of rounds. however like i said this is only a clubby meeting so theres just no recognition towrard quick drivers with a low budget…you have to race in super 1 to be recognised at all…but you will need very deep pockets to do this…people spend around 30k a year on karting.
@moschum….just because your the quickest driver out there doesnt mean that u should deservidly win the competition…you need consistancy in your lap times…u may get quick lap times but your probs only a one lap wonder and thats it. the person who won it was probably only a tenth or 2 behind you on your fastest time but i bet the average lap time was quicker….oh an heel an toe…its not that hard…
moschum says
November 3, 2010 at 7:32 pm@ luke,
there was no average lap time, it was 1 timed lap in the astra VXR, n00b.
yeh, and heel and toeing isnt hard, but most people there couldnt do it in the jag prototypes, the only other person heel and toeing was someone who had raced in formula ford.
so rather than speculating stick to what you know/dont know about the event.
Mr Butterscotch says
November 3, 2010 at 9:27 pmHi Luke,
I wasn’t implying that karting was cheap, merely that it was the cheapest way to get some practical racing experience (even if it’s just going for a jaunt at the local track at the weekend). In saying that, there’s a number of racing series out there now that offer low/no budget action.
anthony prakash says
March 5, 2011 at 1:38 pmso long i try contact who incharge person to help me become racer
irfaan says
November 28, 2011 at 3:30 pmHi i am irfaan,indian,20years of age and from South Africa.I have extremly great talent of driving from a very young age,i got passion of driving and racing just by WATCHING FORMULA1.But unfortunatly we could not afford it and still cannot.I really would LOVE for whoever is out there to give me chance to show my talent and skills on the race track.I have exceeded in every form of racing i’v participated in.SOO please make my dream a reality and we’ll be a extremly strong an successfull team.
THANK YOU!!
irfaan says
November 28, 2011 at 3:37 pmI havnt missed a formula 1 race since the age of 11,watched the full 24hrs LE MANS for the past 4years,God willing we can probably pay a fee if required.
THANK YOU!!