BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch
Encyclopedia
The replacement for the record breaking Vauxhall Astra
Coupe for 2005 was the BTC Touring
version of the Astra SportHatch. Following such a class act as the Coupe was difficult though and the car only won ten out of the sixty races it contested as a works entry, in the hands of Yvan Muller
, Colin Turkington
and Fabrizio Giovanardi
.
However it did claim Vauxhall
's 100th BTCC
win at Knockhill in 2006.
Turkish driver Erkut Kizilirmak
bought three of the four available cars that Triple Eight Race Engineering had and used them to launch his Arkas Racing team in the BTCC
for 2007. Only one example made it out though, with another being used in his native Turkey to get some more match practice. For 2008, Erkut is joined by Martyn Bell
in the Arkas setup with the SportHatch.
Chassis CH12
Chassis CH14
Chassis CH15
Chassis CH16
Chassis CH17
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
Coupe for 2005 was the BTC Touring
BTC Touring
In motor racing, BTC Touring was the set of new regulations for the British Touring Car Championship introduced in 2001 BTCC, after the demise of the Supertouring category....
version of the Astra SportHatch. Following such a class act as the Coupe was difficult though and the car only won ten out of the sixty races it contested as a works entry, in the hands of Yvan Muller
Yvan Muller
Yvan Muller is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a two-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion.-Single-seaters:...
, Colin Turkington
Colin Turkington
Colin Henry Turkington is a Northern Irish auto racing driver. His most notable success to date was becoming 2009 British Touring Car Champion driving for Team RAC. Most recently he has competed in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship driving a BMW 320si for West Surrey Racing...
and Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won eight touring car titles, including European and British crowns...
.
However it did claim Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
's 100th BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
win at Knockhill in 2006.
Turkish driver Erkut Kizilirmak
Erkut Kizilirmak
Erkut Kızılırmak is an auto racing driver from Turkey. He started racing in rallying in 1992 and switched to touring cars in 2002, at the age of 32. In 2005 he won the Turkish Touring Car Championship, in a Vauxhall Astra Coupé formerly raced by Yvan Muller in the BTCC...
bought three of the four available cars that Triple Eight Race Engineering had and used them to launch his Arkas Racing team in the BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
for 2007. Only one example made it out though, with another being used in his native Turkey to get some more match practice. For 2008, Erkut is joined by Martyn Bell
Martyn Bell
Martyn Bell is an auto racing driver. Since 2006 he has contested the British Touring Car Championship, but he spent the majority of his career racing BMWs in various championships...
in the Arkas setup with the SportHatch.
Chassis CH12
- 2005 – Yvan MullerYvan MullerYvan Muller is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a two-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion.-Single-seaters:...
/Two Seater | Muller: Rounds 1–3 - 2006 – Two Seater/Erkut KizilirmakErkut KizilirmakErkut Kızılırmak is an auto racing driver from Turkey. He started racing in rallying in 1992 and switched to touring cars in 2002, at the age of 32. In 2005 he won the Turkish Touring Car Championship, in a Vauxhall Astra Coupé formerly raced by Yvan Muller in the BTCC...
| Erkut: Rounds 13-15/18-21 - 2007 onwards – Two Seater
Chassis CH14
- 2005 – Colin TurkingtonColin TurkingtonColin Henry Turkington is a Northern Irish auto racing driver. His most notable success to date was becoming 2009 British Touring Car Champion driving for Team RAC. Most recently he has competed in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship driving a BMW 320si for West Surrey Racing...
| Turkington: Rounds 1–12 - 2006 onwards – Unused
Chassis CH15
- 2005/06 – Gavin SmithGavin Smith (racing driver)Gavin Smith is a racing driver from Dublin, born on September 15, 1977. He won Ireland's Fiat Punto championship in 1998, winning 12 times, before trying single-seaters for the next year. In 2000 he was in British Formula Renault, before moving up to the Scholarship class of Formula 3.However, it...
- 2007 – Erkut KizilirmakErkut KizilirmakErkut Kızılırmak is an auto racing driver from Turkey. He started racing in rallying in 1992 and switched to touring cars in 2002, at the age of 32. In 2005 he won the Turkish Touring Car Championship, in a Vauxhall Astra Coupé formerly raced by Yvan Muller in the BTCC...
| Turkish Touring Car Championship: Occasional outings - 2008 – Erkut KizilirmakErkut KizilirmakErkut Kızılırmak is an auto racing driver from Turkey. He started racing in rallying in 1992 and switched to touring cars in 2002, at the age of 32. In 2005 he won the Turkish Touring Car Championship, in a Vauxhall Astra Coupé formerly raced by Yvan Muller in the BTCC...
Rounds 10 Onwards
Chassis CH16
- 2005 – Yvan MullerYvan MullerYvan Muller is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a two-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion.-Single-seaters:...
| Muller: Rounds 4–30 - 2006 – Fabrizio GiovanardiFabrizio GiovanardiFabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won eight touring car titles, including European and British crowns...
- 2007/08 – Erkut KizilirmakErkut KizilirmakErkut Kızılırmak is an auto racing driver from Turkey. He started racing in rallying in 1992 and switched to touring cars in 2002, at the age of 32. In 2005 he won the Turkish Touring Car Championship, in a Vauxhall Astra Coupé formerly raced by Yvan Muller in the BTCC...
Rounds 1–9 Written Off At Donington Park
Chassis CH17
- 2005 – Colin TurkingtonColin TurkingtonColin Henry Turkington is a Northern Irish auto racing driver. His most notable success to date was becoming 2009 British Touring Car Champion driving for Team RAC. Most recently he has competed in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship driving a BMW 320si for West Surrey Racing...
| Turkington: Rounds 13–30 - 2006/07 – Tom ChiltonTom ChiltonThomas James Chilton is a British auto racing driver. He has spent most of his career competing in the BTCC; he is a former factory Vauxhall and Honda driver. For 2011 he is driving an NGTC-spec Ford Focus for Team Aon...
- 2008 – Martyn BellMartyn BellMartyn Bell is an auto racing driver. Since 2006 he has contested the British Touring Car Championship, but he spent the majority of his career racing BMWs in various championships...