Vauxhall Withdraws Touring Cars Team

Vauxhall is the latest car manufacturer to walk away from motorsport after announcing that it is to withdraw its VX Racing team from the British Touring Car Championship at the end of this season.

The British-based outfit cited the global economic downturn for the decision, adding that the absence of other manufacturer entries in the BTCC had also been taken into consideration.

Triple Eight Race Engineering will continue to run three Vectras for reigning double champion Fabrizio Giovanardi, Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan for the remainder of the current campaign.

‘While the company regrets having to leave the BTCC for 2010, it will keep an option open for a possible return to the sport in future years,’ the company said in a statement.

Vauxhall has won nine drivers’ crowns and eight manufacturers’ titles during a four-decade association with the BTCC, while the company’s 120 race victories in the series is second only to Ford.

Vauxhall joins an ever-growing list of car manufacturers to end their investment in motorsport in recent months including the likes of Honda, Subaru and Suzuki.