Vauxhall celelebrates BTCC domination with limited-edition VX Racing Corsa and Astra

Piloted by Fabrizio Giovanardi of the VX Racing, Vauxhall took all three golden trophies in last year's British Touring Car Championship (BTCC): driver, team, and manufacturer. To celebrate, Vauxhall is making 888 Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions. The number of the run comes from the name of the race prep firm, Triple Eight Engineering.

Each car will sport the team colors of red and black, Recaro seats, logos on the B-pillars and sill plates, a black rear diffuser, black door trim and mirror covers, and a tinted rear window. When it comes to rubber, the Corsa gets 18-inchers, while the Astra wears 19-inch radials and also gets piano black trim inside.

The package adds at least a couple thousand British pounds to the ordinary top of the line models: The Corsa VXR will run you £17,425 (just under $25k USD) and the Astra VXR goes for £21,445 (around $30,700 USD). That's a lot of coin even when accounting for the UK's inflated market prices, but if you still want to tweak them further, you'll at least get discounts on VXR Performance Center parts. Of course, you should probably be devoted enough to have at least one Vauxhall tattoo if you're going to get into all of that...

[Source: Vauxhall]

PRESS RELEASE:

GRAB SOME TEAM SPIRIT WITH VAUXHALL'S NEW VX RACING MODELS

* Limited Edition Corsa & Astra VXRs celebrate Vauxhall's success in BTCC
* Cars' colour schemes replicate those of race team
* VXR Performance Centre parts discount included with every car

Luton – With the 2009 BTCC season almost upon us, Vauxhall has just launched two stunning limited editions based on the Corsa and Astra VXR to celebrate VX Racing's success in the 2008 British Touring Car Championship.

Known as the Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions, they will have a combined production run of 888 cars. And that number just happens to coincide with the name of Vauxhall's race experts, Triple Eight Engineering, who build and prepare all the VX Racing Cars and contributed so much to Vauxhall's triumph in the BTCC last season when it won the BTCC's Drivers', Manufacturers' and Team championships.

As well as sharing the VX Racing team colours of red and black, all VX Racing Editions gain full leather Recaro seats as standard. The VX Racing theme continues outside the car with logos on the B-posts and tread plates, too.

And just to make sure that you'd never mistake a VX Racing Edition from an 'ordinary' Corsa or Astra VXR, tinted rear glass, a black rear diffuser and black side bump strips and door mirror covers are all part of the package. In addition, the Astra version gains Piano Black interior décor strips.

We're also sure that VX Racing's drivers, Giovanardi, Neal and Jordan would appreciate the gloss-black alloy wheels – 18" for Corsa, 19" for Astra – that come as standard on all VX Racing Editions.

Finally, for that authentic VX Racing soundtrack – as well as up to 20PS extra power – all VX Racing Edition buyers will have the option of purchasing a Remus exhaust system at a discounted price. For Astras, that means £720 (saving £275) and for Corsas, £410 (saving £150). Buyers will also benefit from a healthy discount on other Vauxhall Performance Centre parts and accessories.

Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions are available to order now through all Vauxhall retailers, costing £17,425.00 and £21,445 respectively.

Team spirit never looked so good...