4 replies to this topic

[WonderWoman61]

I'm researching defunct one-make series at the moment (mainly MG Metro and Honda CR-X) but I have stumbled upon the Vectra series of the late 90s.

Tiff Needell and Louise Aitken-Walker are said to have driven the Celebrity Car at Brands Hatch and Knockhill. Can only find evidence of Needell's appearance, nothing about LA-W.

[BRG]

This site has the following to say about the Vecta series

 

 One make series established by Vauxhall Motors in the UK following in the footsteps of the popular Rover Tomcats in the early 1990’s. Vauxhall committed an undisclosed but substantial sum of money into the series in a bid to overcome the staid image of the Vauxhall Vectra, ultimately to promote sales of the road car. Operating as a support race to the British Touring Cars, the Vectra Challenge was heralded as a fast track to Super Touring with the winner gaining a seat in the following years BTCC.Each race featured an invited 'celebrity driver'.  Tiff Needell competed at Brands Hatch and ex World Ladies Rally Champion Louise Aitken-Walker at Knockhill to name but two.Participation in the series served to build on existing racing careers for numerous BTCC racing drivers including Rob Collard, James Kaye and Dave Pinkney. Then what?  Well, Vauxhall pulled out after the 1999 race season and with the new shape Vectra imminent, the Challenge cars became unequivocally redundant.  Actually no - redundant from Vauxhall perhaps, but not redundant entirely.  What started out as an expensive marketing exercise for Vauxhall (each car reputedly costing £76k+ each) now became affordable club racing/track day cars. Today, you can regularly see Vectra Challenge cars pushing far more expensive race cars around many a UK circuit.

[PRD]

I’m certainly not a celebrity, but bought Dave Pinckney’s Vectra in 2001. We were in the BRSCC Super Coupe Cup and the initial iteration of Britcar for a couple of years

[john aston]

Not quite relevant- sorry - but I think I recall seeing Alex Albon's dad (Nigel ?) racing in the VW Vento series at  Cadwell Park . _  

[bsc]

I think I recall seeing Alex Albon's dad (Nigel ?) racing in the VW Vento series at Cadwell Park . _

Alex's dad is indeed Nigel. From VW Ventos, he had a couple of seasons in the BTCC.