Triple 8 Race Engineering

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Triple 8 Race Engineering
Motor racing team
Founded 1996
Country United Kingdom
Team Principal(s) Ian Harrison
Current series BTCC
Former series Formula Renault BARC
Drivers' titles 2001 BTCC (Plato)
2002 BTCC (Muller)
2003 BTCC (Thompson)
2004 BTCC (Muller)
2007 BTCC (Giovanardi)
2008 BTCC (Giovanardi)
2011 BTCC Ind. (Nash)
Teams' titles 2001 BTCC
2002 BTCC
2003 BTCC
2004 BTCC
2008 BTCC
2009 BTCC
2011 BTCC (Independent)
This article concerns Triple Eight Race Engineering's UK operation. For the V8 Supercar team, see Triple Eight Race Engineering (V8 Supercars)

Triple Eight Race Engineering is an auto racing team formed in 1996 to design, build and race Vauxhalls on behalf of the General Motors brand in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). A close working alliance has developed during a decade of success and Triple Eight is now Vauxhall's technical partner for motorsport. From 2010, the team began expanding into other forms of British motorsport. Particularly series which support the BTCC.

Contents

British Touring Car Championship

Vauxhall Manufacturers Entry

Vauxhall Vectra B (1997–2000)

From 1997, Triple 8 developed the current Vauxhall Vectra into a BTCC spec car. The car had 76 starts with 9 of them being race wins. The cars drivers were Yvan Muller, Jason Plato, John Cleland, Derek Warwick and Vincent Radermecker[1]

Vauxhall Astra Coupé (2001–2004)

Further information: BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Coupe

In 2001, Triple Eight undertook a development programme for the new Vauxhall Astra Coupé, building it to the latest British Touring Car regulations. The introduction resulted in unprecedented success that saw the team take the coveted Manufacturer, Driver and Team titles in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The newly established VX Racing brand and Triple Eight became the first BTCC team in history to win the 'treble' four times running.

egg:sport (2001-2002)

For the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Triple 8 ran a second team sponsored by Egg Banking as egg:sport. The team ran the BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Coupe, which was the same as the works Vauxhall team. The team had some success, finishing 2nd and 3rd, in the Teams Championship, in 2001 and 2002 seasons respectively.

Triple 8, had great success running two teams in 2001 and 2002. They secured 1st and 2nd in the 2001 Teams Championship, as well as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the 2001 Drivers Championship. They were also 2001 Manufacturer's champion with Vauxhall. In 2002, the team finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Drivers Championship, as well as finishing 1st and 3rd in the 2002 Teams Championship and again won the Manufacturer's Title with Vauxhall.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch (2005–2006)

Further information: BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch

The introduction of the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch for the 2005 season saw the addition of a fifth consecutive Manufacturer title whilst Yvan Muller finished runner up in the driver championship. Triple Eight narrowly missed out on the Manufacturer crown for Vauxhall in 2006 with new drivers Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tom Chilton. The highlight of the 2006 season was Fabrizio recording Vauxhall's 100th BTCC victory at the Knockhill circuit in Scotland.

Vauxhall Vectra C (2007–2009)

2007 saw the start of a new era for the BTCC as the series adopted the S2000 regulations as used in the World Touring Car Championship. The changes in regulations meant that the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch was replaced by the Vauxhall Vectra. Despite limited development time, the new car provided almost instant success, winning twice at only its second race meeting. In a tense final day at Thruxton, Fabrizio secured the BTCC driver title whilst Triple Eight won Vauxhall their sixth Manufacturer championship in seven years.

In 2008 the team brought in Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole to partner Giovanardi. Giovanardi and Triple Eight went on to retain their respective titles.

Andrew Jordan replaced Onslow-Cole for 2009, when the team were the only factory-supported team in the series following SEAT's departure.

2009 was also the final season in which Vauxhall competed as a Manufacturer, after announcing they were pulling out at the end of the season due to the global economic crisis and the absence of rival manufacturers.[2]

Independent Entry

Vauxhall Vectra C (2010–Present)

On 23 March 2010 at the BTCC Media Day at Brands Hatch, Triple 8 Race Engineering apperared on the official entry list for the 2010 season. Although without manufacturer support from Vauxhall, Triple 8 intended to run a pair of Vauxhall Vectras in the Independent category[3].

For the 2010 season, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Phil Glew were to race for the team in two Vectras.[4]. However both drivers were dropped before the second meeting at Rockingham in late April after sponsor Uniq ended its partnership with the team. Former Silverline Chevrolet driver James Nash replaced one of the drivers for the remainder of a difficult season for the team, which saw the team reduced to one-car at most of the meetings. However the team was able to run two cars at a few rounds with teenager Daniel Lloyd joining the team for the Croft round in June. Jeff Smith piloted a second car at Knockhill, as did Sam Tordoff during the final meeting at Brands Hatch Indy. Overall, the season proved difficult for the team, only finishing 7th in the teams championship. The first time in 10 years that the team had not finished in the top three.

The 2011 season sees some changes to the team, with Collins Contractors[5] entering as the teams title sponsor. Secondly, the team has chosen to use the new NGTC turbo charged engine[6]. James Nash has stayed with the team and is joined by Tony Gilham[7], who will enter the series after three years in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. The teams early form in the season has been in stark contrast to their previous season, with the team 2nd in the championship after the second round at Donnington Park and Nash leading the way in the drivers championship.

BTCC Results

Formula Renault BARC

Uniq Racing with 888 (2010)

In 2010 Triple 8 teamed up with Uniq to enter a single car into the Formula Renault BARC championship. They entered this series to gain experience for expansion into other series in 2011, particularly series which support the BTCC[8]. Malaysian driver Sazlan Sirajudin drove the car at all six meetings, with 10th being his best finish at Silverstone. He finished the season 16th overall.

Formula Renault BARC Results

Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Ginetta GT Supercup

Triple Eight announced that they were going to run at least two cars in the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain[9] and that they were going to enter the 2011 Ginetta GT Supercup season[10]. Howerever, they failed to enter any races in both championships.

Other projects

Triple Eight are also involved in several other forms of motorsport, ranging from the British Rally Championship to the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup.

BTC-T Vauxhall Vectra

Main article: BTC-T Vauxhall Vectra

The team built a Vectra to the BTC-T Specifications for the 2004 British Touring Car Championship season. However the car was never used due to problems making the car competitive.

V8 Supercars

Main article: Triple Eight Race Engineering (V8 Supercars)

During 2003, Triple Eight expanded into the Australian V8 Supercar series forming Triple Eight Race Engineering Pty Ltd. Already in their short history the team has secured the driver and team runner up spot in 2006 and 2007 championships. The greatest success in the teams short history is undoubtedly winning the coveted Bathurst 1000 kilometre race in 2006, 2007, and 2008, as well as winning the 2008 and 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Pro1000 Series

Triple 8 were given the opportunity to develop 16 race-spec Caparo T1000's for the 2010 season. The T1000 will be a modified version of the Caparo T1.[11]. However, the series never materialised.

Customer Car Division

The customer division of Triple Eight is also growing. Triple Eight Performance Vehicles launched a limited edition Astra Sport Hatch turbo diesel, which followed on from the 2001 manufacture of 100 Special Edition road cars, in the form of the Astra Coupé 888 which was engineered to translate race-winning experience into phenomenal road car response. The T8 proved to be one of Vauxhall's fastest ever selling road vehicles.

References

  1. ^ http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/888/history.aspx
  2. ^ English, Steven (2009-04-17). "Vauxhall to pull out of BTCC". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74519. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  3. ^ http://www.btcc.net/html/drivers.php
  4. ^ http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1862&month=0&year=2010&form=&searchterm=
  5. ^ http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/newsshowarticle.php?id=30
  6. ^ http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/newsshowarticle.php?id=27
  7. ^ http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/newsshowarticle.php?id=24
  8. ^ http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/162633/1/triple_eight_plans_expansion.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss
  9. ^ http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/newsshowarticle.php?id=19
  10. ^ http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/newsshowarticle.php?id=25
  11. ^ "Triple Eight Race Engineering to run Pro1000 Race Series cars". tripleeight.co.uk (Triple Eight Race Engineering Ltd). 2009-09-14. http://www.tripleeight.co.uk/press/?storyId=421&Id=0. Retrieved 2010-01-27. 

External links

Teams and drivers competing in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship season