Ex-Triple Eight Vectras for Team ES Racing

Team ES Racing reports they have taken delivery of Triple Eight Race Engineering’s two Vauxhall Vectras for the 2012 season. The two S2000 cars will again be powered by the 2.0 litre Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC)-spec turbocharged engine from Swindon Engines.

As had been widely anticipated, the Bedfordshire-based squad will run the two Triple Eight-built Vauxhall Vectras in this year’s British Touring Car Championship, one of which won the independent drivers’ title last year at the hands of James Nash.

Team ES Racing will be replacing one car model with race winning history in the BTCC with another which has won two overall championships as well, by replacing the ex-RML Chevrolet Lacetti for the two Vauxhalls. The two Vectras were fitted last year with what is often called the ‘TOCA engine’ in the paddock, which is available for all teams and manufacturers to use in the championship on a lease basis, which itself is based on a Vauxhall unit, developed by Swindon Racing Engines.

The team will step up to a two car operation this season running cars for Team Principal Chris James as well as new signing Dave Newsham.

“They’re race winning cars and they will continue to be highly competitive in 2012,” said James. “We’re delighted to get the deal concluded to run the Vectras and look forward to pushing hard at the start of the season. They come with a great spares package and a massive amount of data so we should be able to hit the ground running.”

Former works outfit Triple Eight are yet to announce what car and drivers they will be fielding themselves this season, beyond an announcement last Autumn that they would be running full NGTC specification cars in 2012.