Following on from an impressive debut season for the 19-year-old, in which he finished as the highest placed driver of a BTC-spec car, Jordan will step up to a S2000 car for the first time.

Despite reports late last year that Jordan had secured a Vauxhall Vectra to race in 2009 under the Team Eurotech/John Guest Racing banner, he will instead race a full works Vectra in the coming season.

After the announcement was made at the opening day of the annual Autosport International show, Jordan told the show: “It’s really exciting for me to be with the best team in touring cars. I had podiums last year and I do want to get some race wins now, and I’m a a top-spec car so there are no excuses.

“It’s a very technical car and that’s where I need to raise my game a bit. The MSA Race Elite scheme has helped to show me the technical knowledge I need to have to compete with the top guys and I did improve on that last year. Hopefully I can improve it further this year and it will bring me on as a driver.”

Jordan will have a testing season as he enters only his second year of touring car racing in a new car. In team-mates Giovanardi and Neal, Jordan will be up against the drivers who have won the past four BTCC titles.

VX Racing brand manager Stuart Harris said: “We are delighted to have Andrew join the VX Racing family for 2009. He has already demonstrated that he has the talent and potential to be a fantastic racing driver; he will really fit in with the team.”

Jordan will begin his second BTCC season, and first for Vauxhall, on Sunday 5th April.

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Fans of the UK’s premier racing series will have the chance to watch some high-speed action FREE of charge as the class of 2009 is unveiled at the Northamptonshire circuit on Thursday, March 19.

The stars and their cars will be out in force on the championship’s official Media Day and fans will be allowed free access to the main Rockingham grandstand from 1pm when the circuit’s gates will be open to the public. Refreshments will be available from the Rockingham Diner.

There will also be the opportunity for fans to visit the paddock area to collect autographs from their favourite drivers however there will be no public access to the garages and pit lane due to track activity.

Last year more than 1500 people took advantage of the free entry to this event and soaked up the pre-season atmosphere as the teams unveiled their highly-tuned 300bhp machines for the first time.

Advance tickets for the Rockingham’s BTCC meeting later in the year (Sunday, September 20), are priced at £23 for adult race day tickets and £28 for weekend passes – a saving of 20 per cent on gate admission prices.

Visitors will be able to make a further saving as fans will not be charged a booking fee when purchasing tickets in person on Media day. The circuit operates a free admission policy for children aged 15 and under.

Rockingham Director, Charlotte Orton, said: “We are extremely proud to be asked to host the official BTCC Media Day for a third consecutive year. This is an excellent opportunity for us to remind people of the fantastic facilities at Rockingham.

“We are very passionate about making motor sport accessible to everyone and this event is the perfect example. It is an excellent way for everyone to prepare for the new season.

“Media day visitors will be able to purchase tickets for the BTCC meeting at Rockingham without having to pay a booking fee. We hope members of the media and the public take full advantage of this event.”

For those fans who cannot make Media Day on March 19, advance tickets can be bought via the ticket hotline on 0871 231 0846 or at www.rockingham.co.uk – the official Rockingham website.

Source: Rockingham Newsroom

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With backing from sunshine.co.uk the team hope that the switch of machinery will bring them improved fortunes for next season. The BTC-spec cars recently received another weight reduction of 25 kilos compared to their rival Super 2000 spec cars, meaning that the 2006 championship-winning Integra’s can remain competitive and in the thick of the mid-field scrap. Team manager Marvin Humphries said: “Andrew Jordan has shown that the Integra is still a strong car and with the reversed grid races and ballast, we think it will still be right in the mix.”

O’Neill raced in the BTCC in 2001 with the Tech-Speed team, and raced in the works Vauxhall team in 2003. However he has only raced sporadically in the series since being diagnosed with diabetes in 2004. His last race was at Thruxton in 2007, when he replaced Tom Ferrier in the second of the Motorbase Performance SEAT Toledo’s. “It’s a great chance and thanks to Martyn for helping me get the seat,” said O’Neill to Motorsport News. “I have always felt I belonged in the BTCC so having a sustained opportunity is the chance I was longing for.”

The change of machines will mark the third time in three years that Bell has begun the season with a new car. The Barrow-upon-Humber driver has been in the BTCC since 2006 and began by racing a rear-wheel drive BMW 320i. This season he moved to Tech-Speed to race the front-wheel drive Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch with limited success.

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The current economic downturn, however, has led to Accident Exchange pulling out. The company’s chief executive, Steve Evans, said: “Experts are telling us that the current economic downturn is going to be a long-term issue and we feel it is important to concentrate our financial spend on providing better support to our BMW dealer partners in the coming period.”

However the loss of such an influential sponsor has not stopped the team from planning to be out on the grid in 2009. Team principal Tony Jackson commented “Jacksons Motorsport still very much exists and we fully intend being on the BTCC grid in 2009.

“It’s business as usual for us – we were there before Accident Exchange under our own team banner in 2007 and, as the saying goes, one door closes and another opens…

“It’s of course unfortunate that we have lost Accident Exchange due to the current economic climate. It has been a very beneficial sponsor and we’d like to thank the company for all it’s done for us in enabling Mat and the team to challenge for race wins and the BTCC title in 2008.”

Accident Exchange has hinted that it would like to return to the BTCC as a sponsor in the future when the global economic situation improves.

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Meanwhile BTCC Action will present you the shortlist of drivers who we feel most deserve the accolade.

Fabrizio Giovanardi
The Italian once again displayed exemplary speed and control when needed to take his second consecutive British Touring Car title. Despite not winning the most races the Vauxhall driver still had one of the best finishing records of anyone this year, and only fell short of finishing every round in the points at the final meeting.

Jason Plato
Would have mounted a stronger challenge to Giovanardi’s title defence if the Leon’s diesel engine hadn’t been so unreliable. Persevered anyway, taking the most race wins of anyone, although struggled to score highly enough when the car’s reliability wasn’t the problem. Will hope to be back in 2009 to mount another strong challenge on the title and to recapture the elusive second championship to add to his 2001 crown.

Mat Jackson
Finished the season as the top BMW driver, also pipping Plato to second in the driver’s standings in the final race of the year. Put in some stunning drives from further back on the grid and proved to be a master of damp and wet conditions in the rear-wheel drive BMW. A win at Silverstone from13th on the grid and a second at Croft from 18th were highlights of his year.

Colin Turkington
Didn’t begin the season strongly by spinning twice in the opening round, but drove consistently thereon, taking four wins and being the only driver to finish every race (and hasn’t retired from a race since June 2007). Finishing outside the points several times during the year due to driver error probably cost him a more serious chance at the overall championship, but still managed to take the independents title for the second year in a row.

Tom Onslow-Cole
Came of age during 2008 and showed his strength as a team player at Vauxhall. Only took two wins in the end, during an extremely impressive Thruxton weekend, but was always there in the thick of the action and he finished all races except Round 3 where he had one of the biggest accidents of the year, and Round 6 at the soaking wet Rockingham race where he, like many others, slid off the track in the atrocious conditions.

Steven Kane
In his debut season in the BTCC Kane really showed his true colours, delivering some stunning drives and only just missing out on his and Motorbase’s first win. Him and the team really came on strong towards the end of the year, culminating in Motorbase being the top scoring outfit at the final meeting, beating even the works teams. Finished the season with three second place finishes and should be able to go that one better in 2009 - Kane was recently quoted as saying that he believes he can go for the championship next year.

Andrew Jordan
A stunning debut season for the 19-year old, who twice stood on the podium. Armed with one of the older cars on the grid, the BTC-Spec Honda Integra, Jordan drove like an experienced pro when he was handed front-row grid slots no less than three times. Turned tow of these into podium positions, whilst he was dealt a cruel blow when challenging for what could have been his first podium. Jordan will be relishing the chance to drive the much newer and proven Vauxhall Vectra next year, and could score his first ever win if everything falls into place.

Voting is now open and closes at the end of the year. You can comment on the results below, and if you believe we have missed anyone out who deserves the award.

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Jason Plato competed in last weekend’s race of champions event at Wembley Stadium. In the main event he lost out to three time world touring car champion Andy Priaulx, whilst in the nations cup he and David Coulthard made it to the quarter finals before being knocked out by the German team of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. Ahead of the race he told crash.net: “It’s a big one isn’t it? England versus Germany! I think there’s some bloke there that’s done a bit (Michael Schumacher), although I’m racing against Vettel, who’s an absolute star, isn’t he? It’s going to be interesting…”

Continuing on the subject of Plato, the former champion has ruled out any involvement in the WTCC next year, stating that he’d like to remain in the BTCC. “We’re looking at all sorts, but my focus is on the BTCC,” he told crash.net. “It fits well with me, my brand, what I do, all the TV work that I do, and obviously I’ve just had a little baby daughter, so travelling all around the world and being away in the WTCC isn’t that attractive if I’m honest.

“There’s a bit of progress,” he added. “There’s nothing to report at this stage – it’s all a little bit early – but there’s a lot of activity in terms of desire to have me back on the grid.” Plato went on to hint that he’d love to drive for Vauxhall again, but with both Giovanardi and Neal contracted to race for the team for next year it looks unlikely that he’ll find a drive there.

Meanwhile Plato’s former SEAT team-mate Darren Turner has been awarded the Woolf Barnato Trophy for the second time in succession for his success in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours race. The award is annually given to the commonwealth driver who finishest highest in the race whilst behind the wheel of a British car. Turner drove the number 9 Aston Martin DBR9 to thirteenth in this year’s race along with David Brabham (who shared the award) and Antonio Garcia. The trio finished second in class.

Mat Jackson was in Germany at the beginning of the month receiving an award for finishing third overall in it’s Sports Trophy competition. The award, spanning many different series, puts all independent drivers who are racing one of BMW’s cars against each other, with the outcome based on BMW’s own points system. With over 140 drivers competing for top prize, for Jackson to take third is a highly impressive achievement. The only other BTCC driver to feature was Colin Turkington, who took fourth.

BTC Racing are already planning their 2009 campaign, and the team are currently looking for a second driver to race for them. Building on their year in 2008 running SEAT Toledo’s the team are hopeful of running a pair of SEAT Leon’s in next year’s championship.

New team for 2009 Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing, run by the Clyde Valley Racing outfit, hope to take delivery of their first SEAT Leon around mid December as part of their preparation for 2009. The outfit will run a car for Dan Eaves and possibly Phiroze Bilimoria.

You can vote in our poll on where you think Plato will end up below:

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A second driver has yet to be announced, but the team is planning to run two cars next year. “We are speaking to drivers with BTCC race winning experience for our second car and we are confident we have a package with race winning potential,” said team director Richard Coleman.

The team will receive support from World Touring Car Championship team RML who supported Robertshaw Racing with running Lacetti’s in 2008. The cars will be the very latest ones campaigned by RML this year.

The step-up to the BTCC will be a major one for the team which only formed in 2007. Tempus Sport has experience in running the Formula Renault BARC championship, which it intends on continuing in next year alongside a step up to the BTCC and Formula Renault UK Championships. The team is also moving to new premises in Milton Keynes as part of its expansion plans.

“This is a serious campaign with substantial backing,” added Coleman. “We have the latest specification Chevrolet Lacettis, and everyone has seen how strong they were on the world stage this year. We have good support from RML and a driver with a lot of potential in Harry Vaulkhard.”

Vaulkhard, who scored two points in a 2006-spec Chevrolet Lacetti in this year’s championship, said: “I think the odds were against me in 2008, but I’m confident that 2009 will be a far better season.
Although the Tempus Sport name is not well known, the personnel have a lot of experience and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new car. Having a deal put together so early in the day means I can focus on my racing and hit the ground running with an extensive test programme. If I get a run in the car before the end of the year it will be a perfect Christmas present.”

Image source: Tempus Sport

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Arena last ran in the BTCC in 2005, when Tom Chilton was a regular race winner in the Honda Civic Type-R. Whilst their entry for next year will not be works-backed, the team has plenty of experience running a top flight outfit as they ran work’s Honda’s between 2002 and 2004.

Team principal Mike Earle told BTCC.net “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Arena to return to the BTCC after a three-year absence. We will announce our commercial partners in January, but I can confirm we will definitely be back.

“We have researched many options of cars to build and decided the Ford Focus was dynamically the most suitable for our programme.

“We will be entering the 2009 BTCC as an Independent entry. We will not be receiving any additional support from Ford.”

Chilton will have a major role to play through the winter as he takes centre stage in the development of the car for the first time. “The Hondas I raced with Arena before had already been developed with different drivers as factory cars, so had Vauxhall’s Astra and it was Fabrizio (Giovanardi) who did all the work on the Vectra,” he added. “The Halfords car had also been developed by other drivers.”

“Of all the teams I’ve been with I’d say Arena has also given me the best package. Plus we’ve now got one of the top engineers (Geoff Kingston) from WSR joining us.”

Sources: www.btcc.net

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The cars, which are both owned by Nigel Vaulkhard, are currently up for sale and it is looking increasingly unlikely that they or Vaulkhard will be on the grid next. “At the end of the day we just couldn’t have another season scrimping for every penny like we did this year,” team manager Joe Bradley told autosport.com.

“We’ve come to an amicable arrangement with the Vaulkhards to go our separate ways.”

Vaulkhard himself admitted to crash.net that it is hard securing any backing at the moment as the current economic crisis continues. “I am talking to a few big companies at the moment, but the credit crunch isn’t making it easy to bring in sponsorship because people aren’t keen on spending too much money,” he said.

“However, I’ll keep working on things and fingers crossed, because I really want to be back in the BTCC next year.

Meanwhile there are doubts that Alan Taylor, who raced a Honda Integra with Robertshaw this year, will return to the grid in 2009. “I don’t think Alan will be back, ” Bradley told autosport.com. “I think the BTCC was something he desperately wanted to do, but now it’s done I think that will be it.”

“Having said that though, it wouldn’t surprise me if he called us in February and said: ‘Right guys, I’m bored with the off-season, let’s go racing’.”

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Hughes ran with only one MG in 2008 and achieved only two points finishes, but hopes to return to the grid next season with a team-mate as he did in the 2007 season when Fiona Leggate partnered him in another MG. “The plan is definitely two cars,” he told btcc.net. “We’ll have newer suspension from Ohlins – I’ve still been running on ’02 suspension – Judd has told us it can squeeze a bit more power from the engines and of course the older BTC-spec cars like the MG have been given a 25kg weight break. It’s got to be better.”

Hughes best season in the BTCC was in 2005 when he scored 27 points and finished 15th in the championship. He hopes to return to form next year, despite being up against an increasingly competitive grid in an increasingly ageing car, and has set some high targets. “My number one goal will be to finally stand on the BTCC podium whether it’s with a top three outright or a victory in the Independents,” he added. “I think that’s a realistic target. If it all comes together I don’t see why we can’t be regularly in the top ten and even the top six.”

When asked why he hasn’t opted to do what many other teams have done in switching to S2000 machinery, Hughes said: “We looked at buying newer Super 2000 machinery but we know the MG inside out and we’ve got the improvements coming for 2009 so it makes sense to stick with it.”

Source: www.btcc.net

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